ipl-logo

Emperor Nero's Role In History

1040 Words5 Pages

Introduction:
Nearing the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, an emperor by the name of Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or Nero for short was inaugurated amid much controversy. Nero is notorious for his vices. His relentless tyranny, fraudulence and corruption were only a few of the latter mentioned; all of which lead to his demise after 13 years in power. This essay will briefly, yet critically analyse the life of Emperor Nero from a historical account. The aforementioned will be achieved by means of satisfying the following criteria: a.) Establishing fascinating feats regarding Emperor Nero, b.) Nero’s rise to prominence in all its unorthodox glory and c.) A likening, and in-depth comparison between Emperor Nero and Saddam Hussein – Iraqi-dictator of the 20th century.
Establishing fascinating feats regarding Emperor Nero
Nero can be seen as an antithesis of the conventional Roman Emperor. Born and raised amidst penurious living-conditions due to his family’s exile, Nero was far from wealthy, let alone being an emperor-in-waiting. This was partly due to Nero’s father, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, or Domitius’ ineptitude pertaining fatherhood. His violent and corrupt tendencies arguably not only rubbed off on Nero, but earned him his bad reputation, lasting until his death. According to Barrett (1996, p.51):
…Domitius knocked down …show more content…

Unlike conventional rulers, Nero came from a humble background. He himself was not responsible for becoming a ruler, but his complex familial ties, notably that of his mother, propelled him into political circumstances. Once in power, Nero was initially characterised by generosity, competence, and a seemingly liberal stance, but this quickly declined as his true nature surfaced. From this point onwards, Nero would be remembered for his sheer tyranny, bloodthirst, and corruption. His megalomania can even be compared to dictators centuries later, such as Saddam

Show More
Related

Romein Swot Analysis

149 Words | 1 Pages

”National Geographic,www.nationalgeographic.com/. Syme,Ronald. The Roman Revolution. TheClarendonPress,1939. “WelcometoPrimaryFacts.”Primary

Read More

How Did Nero Sink To Power

288 Words | 2 Pages

Nero was just sixteen when the emperor Claudius died and was named as princeps after he bribed the Praetorian guards to secure his succession. Wary of any rival to his power, he ordered the execution of Britannicus, Claudius’ son with Messalina, as well as the exile Agrippina, his own mother. Nero’s first five years of reign were generally peaceful but he would soon sink to madness after this. He had his own mother killed, became increasingly corrupt, and wasted Rome’s tax money for his vices.

Read More

Significance Of Emperor Nero Adnan Baroudi

1024 Words | 5 Pages

Historical Investigation - Emperor Nero Adnan Baroudi Assess the significance of the emperor Nero to the city of rome Emperor Nero, one of the most notorious figures in Roman history, continues to captivate and intrigue scholars and historians to this day. Born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 37 AD, Nero rose to power as the fifth emperor of the Roman Empire at the tender age of 16. His reign, which lasted from 54 to 68 AD, was marked by a complex mix of artistic passion, political intrigue, and ruthless tyranny. Nero's legacy is shrouded in controversy, with some regarding him as a tyrant and others as a misunderstood ruler.

Read More

What Caused The Fall Of Rome Dbq

793 Words | 4 Pages

The great Empire of Rome, the greatest power to have ruled the Mediterranean. The Roman empire thrived in the time of Julius Caesar around 47 BC. Caesar had made Rome into an empire, but after he died, Rome started its downfall. It was unthinkable. The great Roman empire’s reign was over.

Read More

Why Was Julius Caesar A Bad Man

740 Words | 3 Pages

He was also was a very bad man. He would kill all people that would disagree with him, was a terrible leader, and weak. He was a terrible leader because he was not going to go to the traditional race at the festival of Lupercal. The only reason he was not going to go is because a soothsayer told him to beware the ides of March, March fifteenth to be specific. Julius Caesar is a man that the conspirators would consider a bad man.

Read More

Exemplarity In Roman Literature

1631 Words | 7 Pages

In her chapter on the historiography of Roman exemplarity, Christina Shuttleworth Kraus examines this loss of power through the transition of exempla as the res gestae populi Romani to the res gestae divi Augusti (Kraus, 2). In early Roman history, exemplarity rested in the hands of popular consciousness; the citizens of Rome had the sole power of deciding which events or people to raise up to the status of exempla. This system of exemplarity that is explained in detail by Matthew Roller’s four stage model of the creation of exempla by public discourse (Roller, 216-217). However, Roller’s framework begins to collapse when Augustus intentionally influences exemplary power through his coercive Res Gestae. Rather than looking to the past for the great deeds of common people like the Sabine women or Lucretia, Roman citizens of the Augustan period had their attention directed towards the persona of one man, an exemplar in the form of an emperor.

Read More

Nero's Accomplishments

719 Words | 3 Pages

and he even hired 6,000 Roman Knights as his claque. Besides being a lover of the arts, Nero was also a personally acclaimed athlete. He dreamed of one day participating in the Greek Olympic Games and even created his own Neronian games that took place every five years. As an

Read More

Nero Significant Event

1689 Words | 7 Pages

This is controversial as there was no backing evidence to show he started it, but we can see from the quotes of primary sources which reflect that he was unpopular. He showed his pragmatic and caring side in the short term when he took control and ordered the emergency measures to be put into place to help the Roman citizens who had been affected by the fire. He had even opened up his own palace as a shelter for the displaced and constructed new building codes to be put into place. He displayed his selfish personality when he built his new palace, the Domus Aureas, as he used land that did not belong to him as well as depleting money which caused him to steal from churches. As mounting suspicions arose about the fire with some suggesting Nero had started it, Nero had decided to use the Christians as scapegoats in order to save his own reputation.

Read More

Is This Document, What Kind Of Leader Was Augustus?

752 Words | 4 Pages

What kind of leader was Augustus? Round 1 Document Based on this document, what kind of leader was Augustus? Evidence from document to support these reasons Is this document reliable? Why or why not?

Read More

Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire Analysis

1187 Words | 5 Pages

Maximinus I. The organization of these four chapters emphasizes the structural conformity of the treated emperors, less in the similarity of their policies than in the comparability of the political problems of the time. To Gibbon it was clear that, despite apparent differences, the Roman policy of that era was fraught with the Romans

Read More

Comparing Tacitus And Suetonius The Fire In Rome In 64 CE

1250 Words | 5 Pages

He describes how the fire allowed Emperor Nero to carry out his ambitious plans for rebuilding the city, but also how Nero was blamed for starting the fire and subsequently persecuted Christians as scapegoats (Tacitus, Annals 15). Tacitus is known for his critical approach to the Roman Empire and its ruler, Nero. For example, Tacitus describes how the fire began and spread, the efforts of the people to extinguish it, and the destruction caused by the flames. He describes the fire as a catastrophic event that lasted for six days and seven nights destroying much of the city. Tacitus describes the fire as a devastating event that destroyed much of Rome and left many citizens homeless.

Read More

Pros And Cons Of Julius Caesar

1255 Words | 6 Pages

For starters, he is the reason the Roman Republic fell and the Roman Empire rose. Despite the rise of the empire was a relatively good geographical outcome, the fact that it was governed by a dictatorship, created a few problems. One being that most Romans were not in favor of a monarchical life. But, when he came into power the first thing that he did was make extreme cutbacks on the Senate. This can also be a result of his power thirst.

Read More

Julius Caesar: Hero Or Villain

508 Words | 3 Pages

Julius Caesar was the Dictator of Rome in 42 BC who accomplished many things. Many people believed that he was a hero, but Julius Caesar was a very ambitious dictator and was more of a villain than a hero. Julius Caesar was a villain because he didn’t think first before doing something, he forced the Senate to name him dictator for life and he also was a glory hound and put his needs before the republic. To begin with, Julius Caesar was a was a glory hound and put his needs before the republic. Caesar used his power as dictator more towards his advantage instead of helping the people in Rome.

Read More

Julius Caesar Thesis

793 Words | 4 Pages

“If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it”- Julius Caesar, the man who is known as one of the most fascinating political figures of all time. The one who through his military genius, expanded the Roman Republic to include parts of what are now Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Although the hero had many followers and admirers, he was ultimately stabbed to death by his own fellow politicians. Caesar was born in July, 100 B.C.E to Gaius Caesar and Aurelia. The family claimed a noble history but hadn’t produced many influential people till then.

Read More

Julius Caesar Research Paper

1179 Words | 5 Pages

Julius Caesar was a politician, general, and dictator. He once said, “It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.” He was an incredible speaker of the time and was very well liked by most citizens. He brought a lot of change to Rome and was a very strong leader. Julius Gaius Caesar was born in Rome Italy, in 100 B.C., on July 13th.

Read More

More about Emperor Nero's Role In History

Related Topics

Open Document