DOMUS AURAE et IMPERATOR FINIS
After “The Great Fire” Nero offered to house the homeless, but the Roman people did not acknowledge his acts as kindness but rather an effort to stop revolt and mask his true involvement in the fire. In addition a rumor had spread through Rome like wildfire, accusing Nero of not trying to stop the fire but rather singing as Rome fell to ashes. With Nero’s mother dead and his advisor Seneca retired he was beyond anyone’s control. Rome now fell victim to the arbitrary desires of a mad tyrant. There was only one solution, murder. In 65 AD a plotter and freed slave by the name of Epicharis found a Roman officer who was apparently upset with Nero’s actions and convinced him to kill Nero. However Epicharis’ plan failed, the officer betrayed her and she was captured. Rather than give up the names of her fellow plotters she killed herself. With no leads to find the other plotters Nero unleashed terror on Rome. He and his army massacred huge numbers of people including Seneca, and those who weren’t killed were forced to execute themselves. Rome had had enough, in 68AD the Northern territories began to revolt and when news spread to the Senate they declared Emperor Nero a public enemy. This meant that anyone could kill him without punishment. Nero terrified fled Rome with several slaves and committed suicide. With no direct heir, Rome plunged into a civil war and struggle for power. He was the last emperor of the Julio- Claudian Era and the year following Nero’s death is known as the “Year of Four Emperors” in which Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian founded a dynasty that lasted two generations.
Emperor Nero began his reign in his youth. He was a kind and considerate boy who was transformed into an evil tyrant due to the immense power he held at such a young age. Emperor Nero might have not been appreciated towards the end of his rule but he began as a humble leader and the Romans must not forget that.