Reign of Nero: Fire, Persecution, and Civil War
Nero came to power aged sixteen through his mother Agrippina's machinations. The first five years of his reign were praised even by his enemies as good government, guided by the philosopher Seneca as adviser and Burrus as praetorian prefect. The reign darkened as Nero asserted himself. He had his mother Agrippina murdered in 59 CE. In July 64 CE fire broke out in Rome and burned for nine days. Ancient sources accused Nero of ordering the fire to clear land for his vast Domus Aurea palace. Nero blamed Christians, unleashing the first documented Roman persecution: Christians were executed by crucifixion, burned as human torches, or thrown to animals in the arena. A major conspiracy in 65 CE was betrayed; Seneca and the poet Lucan were forced to suicide. By 68 CE, Nero faced simultaneous revolts. The Senate declared him a public enemy. He fled and killed himself, reportedly lamenting 'What an artist dies in me!'
- Year: 54 CE
- Category: Political
