Summary Claudius Drusus Germanicus - 1716 Words

Lizzy Davis Shuler September 29, 2015 Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus AD 15 - AD 68 Nero was born on December 15, 37 ADto Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina and was named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. His father came from a well known patrician family (with a relative who had been consul in 192 BC) and his mother was the youngest daughter of Germanicus. He was taught from a young age by the Seneca and studied the typical Greek, philosophy and rhetoric of that age (Morgan 13). Clearly born into a highly selectively bred family, the expectations for success were of mammoth proportions. At the age of two, Agrippa (Nero s mother) was banished to the Pontian Islands by Caligula and his familial inheritance was seized only a year†¦show more content†¦It was felt that a future emperor should remind the army of their loyalties (Holland 21). Nero was eventually named the heir-apparent. However, Claudius died only a short 3 years later, in 54 AD. Some historians argue it was likely due to poisoning by his wife. However, since Nero was still a minor in the eyes of the Romans (under 17), Agrippina ruled until he could take power back forcefully. Agrippina s reign did not last long, within the year being removed from the palace by a power hungry Nero. On 11 February AD 55, Britannicus suddenly died in the palace (some say he was poisoned by Nero), which greatly alarmed Agrippa, who planned to keep him if Nero had died or defied her will. Nero was a sickly boy, who still radiated adolescence with his weak blue eyes and sandy blonde hair atop a scrawny body which was covered in marks and smelled awful, which led him to appear in public often in only a loose dressing gown with a scarf and no shoes (Barrett 24). As a man, he acted in many conflicting ways being both artistic and sporty, brutal and weak, and eventually became deranged. However odd his personality, Rome kept a peaceful empire under the rule of Burrus and Seneca for quite a while. Nero initially copied Augustus reign- treating the senate respectfully, granting more freedoms, using legislation almost solely to maintain and improve public order, e.g. Banning public