Nero (A.D. 37-68) became emperor of the Roman Empire after the death of his adopted father, the Emperor Claudius, in A.D. 54. Nero was the 5th emperor of Rome and the last of Rome’s first dynasty, the Julio-Claudians, founded by Augustus (the adopted son of Julius Caesar).
In his first five years as emperor, Nero gained a reputation for political generosity, promoting power-sharing with the Senate and ending closed-door political trials.
Nero is best known for his debaucheries, political murders, persecution of Christians and a passion for music. At private events beginning in 59, he sang and performed on the lyre and encouraged members of the upper classes to take dancing lessons.
Ancient writers claim that he started the great fire of Rome in A.D. 64 so that he could re-build the city center.
During his rule, he murdered his own mother, Agrippina the Younger; his first wife, Octavia; and allegedly, his second wife, Poppaea Sabina.
Outside the city of Rome, he went down well with the people of Greece (he granted them their ‘freedom’, which amounted to an enormous tax break). Inside the city itself, he most likely had support among the ordinary people.
Roman Emperor Nero
