Contemplating Nero

Just finished reading Tactius' The Histories, and I am again plagued by the emperor Nero. That he contributed to the downfall of the Roman Empire is a given; by restoring or introducing new measures to ensure his safety (ie the use of informants), the very foundation of the senatorial and equestrian ranks lost their value. Men were more willing to keep their heads(literally) than to live an honorable life. Nero heaped honors and riches upon informers, who either truthfully or falsely accused men of rank of conspiracy against Nero.

The fratricidal poisoning of his own brother Britannicus was daring. Though only 14, Britannicus was the blood heir who was a legitimate threat to Nero's power. Nero poisoned him at a banquet, and blamed the death on Britannicus' supposed malady, epilepsy.

Not only was Britannicus destroyed, but Agrippina, Nero's own mother was also set within the crosshairs of Nero's paranoia. First trying to kill her by rigging a boat she was sailing on to sink(which ultimately failed), Nero sent some guards to Agrippina's house, and killed her by stabbing her to death.

If Nero could commit such atrocities against his own family, the persecution of the Christians must have been a cake-walk for him. After a fire destroyed much of Rome, Nero placed the blame squarely on the Christians. Ingenious executions such as dressing them up in animal skins and having them torn by dogs, or tying them up to posts and burning them alive roused sympathy even among condemned criminals.

Pommpae, Nero's wife, was next to get the axe. In a fitful rage one night, Nero took it upon himself to kick Pommpae to death, her being pregnant was not even taken into consideration by Nero.

The insanity of Nero was another "brick in the wall"(cheap Pink Floyd reference) in the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.