Nero (lived AD 37–⁠68)

Nero was born at Antium. In AD 50 Claudius adopted him at Agrippina’s urging, and in AD 54 the Guard backed him as emperor. For the first years Seneca and Burrus ruled for him. After the murder of his mother (AD 59) and Burrus’s death (AD 62) he grew more and more autocratic.

In July AD 64 a fire destroyed 10 of Rome’s 14 districts (3 completely). Nero was at Antium at the time; on his return he opened his gardens to the homeless. Even so, rumors of his guilt circulated. After the fire he built the Golden House and blamed the Christians. In AD 66–⁠67 he performed in Greece as an artist.

In AD 68 Vindex and Galba rebelled, and the Guard and Senate abandoned him. On June 9, AD 68, Nero took his own life. He banished Vespasian from court for dozing at his concert.