Every four weeks I will post a snippet of history to fully explain why certain things happen in the plot of "Weakness". This week is about Nero's early life a rise to power.
Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus was the last member of the Julio-Claudian line to rule Rome. His family was exiled, but Emperor Claudius allowed their return into the imperial family. Claudia married Agrippina (uncle and niece) to seal his repentance, thus allowing Lucius to become part of the imperial family again. His name was changed to Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus once he was adopted by Emperor Claudius and named Britannicus's guardian. Nero was also betrothed to Claudius's daughter, Octavia, which helped Nero take prominence over Claudius's son, Britannicus.
As Nero grew older, Agrippina, his mother, began to become restless. She wanted to see her son become the Emperor of Rome. She began to place people into positions of power. In 54AD, Claudius was poisoned by Agrippina; this led to her complete seizure of power with the help of Nero's tutor, Seneca, and Praetorian Prefect Afranius Burrus.
Nero became emperor at the age of seventeen. With the help of Burrus, Seneca and his mother, Nero's first five years as emperor were peaceful and fair. He ended capital punishment, secret trials and gave the Senate more independence along with reducing direct taxation. But once his mother began to become irritating and Seneca and Burrus were egging on his violent, drunken rampages, Nero's dark side was soon to become revealed.
Sources:
http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/nero-index.html
http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-emperors/nero.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment