June 9, 68 A.D.: Nero plays his last fiddle

To put it lightly, Nero was a terrible person. He certainly killed his own mother, Agrippina, and he probably killed his wife and step-brother; he had several prominent Romans, including Seneca, executed. Some Roman historians said he used Christians as slow-burning garden lanterns, and popular rumor was that he set the conflagration of 64 A.D. to clear space for a palace.

On this day in 68, the fifth Roman emperor committed suicide. His death after a 14-year reign ended the empire’s first dynasty, and sparked a turbulent time known as The Year of Four Emperors.

Nero was succeeded by Galba, who had governed the area now known as Spain. But he was unable to convince the now-powerful Praetorian Guard to support him, and the empire split into factions – and, suddenly, the imperial military unit had become the kingmaker.

In the year 69, four emperors reigned:

Galba (assassinated, 15 January)
Otho (committed suicide, 16 April)
Vitellius (executed, 22 December)
Vespasian

Vespasian ruled for 10 years and founded the Flavian dynasty. (The Colosseum, begun in 72, is also known as the Flavian Ampitheater.)

It’s unlikely Nero set the fire that created space for his “Golden House”, or Domus Aurea; in fact, he gave cash to help many of the victims rebuild. And one fact that should be mentioned: the fiddle was not invented until the 10th century.

For more on Nero, visit Livius.

Image: Nero crowned by Agrippina, Sebasteion-Sevgi Gönül Gallery, Aphrodisias. Photo by Carlos Delgado