Outline:

I. Early Years II. Ascension to the Throne III. Decline, Decadence and Death

I. Early Years

A. Nero was a tyrant who began a tremendous persecution of Christians in Rome! B. He was notorious for his inhumane and cruel treatment of Christians! C. Nero was emperor of Rome and was born at Antium, in December of 37 A.D. and died in 68 A.D., right after he gave the order to execute the apostle Paul! D. He was the son of Agrippina the Younger and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenbarbus. E. His childhood was turbulent. His family was banished by the emperor Caius around 39 A.D. and his father died when he was 3. F. Caligula confiscated the entire family fortune, therefore, sending Nero into many years in poverty. G. Agrippina raised him with the help of Domitia Lepida his aunt. H. His tutors were reportedly a dancer and a barber. I. Agrippina was returned to Rome upon ascension of to the throne in 41 A.D., and her estate returned to her. J. In 49 A.D., following the execution of Empress Messallina, Claudius married Agrippina and the young Nero’s position was dramatically changed! K. Agrippina arranged for Nero to now have excellent tutors. L. He was now tutored by the famous Seneca the Elder. M. Nero was betrothed to the daughter of Claudius, Octavia, and was officially adopted by the emperor in 50 A.D. N. This put him in the position as probable heir to the throne over Claudius’ son Britannicus who was younger and had the distinct disadvantage of having executed Messallina his mother. O. Henceforth the young Lucius Domitius was known as Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus.

II. Ascension to the Throne

A. Agrippina murdered Claudius in October 54 after having assured herself the title of Augusta and her son Nero the throne! B. Nero, with the help of the Praefect of the , Burrus, was accepted by the Guard and became Emperor of Rome 54 A.D. C. His mother dominated the initial reign of Nero. D. Fortunately for Nero he had the wise council of Burrus and Seneca to fall back on which offset his mother’s influence! E. Agrippina was removed from the palace in 55 A.D. as Burrus and Seneca’s influence upon Nero had increased greatly! F. Both, Burrus and Seneca administered the Empire successfully under Nero! G. But Nero’s self-indulgent personality began to take over and he became disenchanted with his councilors finding their influences inhibiting to his immoral lifestyle! H. He murdered his mother in 59 A.D. and Burrus died in 62 A.D. reportedly from a throat tumor, although the praefect believed he was poisoned by the Emperor! I. Faenius Rufus and the ruthless and ambitious Tigellinus succeeded Burrus indulging Nero’s excesses! J. Seneca had since retired as a result of losing his ally Burrus! K. It is a testament to Burrus and Seneca that Roman government functioned on the level it did during Nero’s reign! L. The departure of these two men marked the beginning of one of the most turbulent times in the history of the Empire.

2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

III. Decline, Decadence and Death

A. Nero ordered the great general Corbulo from in 67 A.D., and had him commit suicide. This was after Corbulo regained Armenia and stabilized the East. B. Nero’s megalomania found expression in despotism, immorality and artistic obsessions. C. He traveled to Greece and was involved in poetry, singing, games, painting, parties and feasts. D. Nero under the influence of Tigellinus did not tolerate dissent or disagreement in the government and had many arrested, executed and exiled during the latter part of his reign! E. The Senate grew weary of him and became distrustful of him. F. The fire of 64 A.D. brought the first great persecution of Christians in Rome causing many Romans to sympathize with the unfair treatment endured by the Christians! G. Nero had always greatly desired to rebuild Rome and he used the fire to do so by reconstructing it in the Greek style. H. He began building a prodigious palace called the Golden House which had it been completed would have covered a third of Rome! I. Nero was reportedly at his villa at Antium 35 miles from Rome at the time of the fire, but many held him responsible for the fire in order to indulge his aesthetic tastes in the city’s subsequent reconstruction! J. According to the of the Roman historian and to the Nero of the Roman biographer Suetonius, Nero in response tried to shift responsibility for the fire on the Christians, who were popularly thought to engage in many wicked practices. K. Nero’s shifting of the blame of the fire to the Christians is self-incriminating! L. The was formed in 65 A.D. to bring down Nero, it involved numerous nobleman, senators and others with the ringleader being Gaius Calpurnius Piso. M. The influence of Tigellinus grew as he weeded out the conspirators and had them executed! N. The lists of the executed grew everyday including Seneca, Lucan and Thrasea Paetus. O. Nero made an ill-advised trip to Greece as the administration of the Empire fell apart. P. He failed to see the danger that he was presently in and did nothing to change his lifestyle or advisors who were giving him unwise council! Q. In March 68 A.D, Vindex, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis rebelled against Nero but was crushed by the Rhine legions. R. This did not stop rebellions in other provinces from springing up throughout the empire. S. They demanded the removal of Nero and when Tigellinus became ill, Nero lost his will and did not act in quelling the increasing rebellions! T. He committed suicide with the help of his secretary, Epaphroditus, on June 9, 68 A.D. U. The historian Suetonius writes that, dying, Nero uttered the words, “What an artist dies with me!”

2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2