What Made Emperor Nero The Most Evil Man

Summary

This script delves into the controversial legacy of Emperor Nero, exploring his portrayal as a villain in history and questioning whether he was truly the evil leader depicted in popular narratives. It discusses his early life, rise to power, controversial actions including the alleged murder of his mother and first wife, and the infamous Great Fire of Rome. The script also challenges the traditional narrative, suggesting that Nero may have been more misunderstood than malevolent, highlighting his support for the arts and the possibility that he was a ruler out of place and time.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Genghis Khan, Tamerlane the Great, and Qin Shi Huang were historical figures known for their extreme acts of violence and destruction.
• 🎻 Nero, born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, is often considered one of history's evil leaders, with allegations of arson and patricide.
• 👑 Nero's reign began with support from the Roman Empire due to his youth, interest in the arts, and perceived kindness.
• 🗡 Nero's relationship with his mother, Agrippina, was fraught with conflict, culminating in her assassination on his orders.
• 💔 Nero's marriages were marked by strife and tragedy, with both wives meeting untimely ends under suspicious circumstances.
• 🔥 The Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64 led to widespread devastation and fueled rumors that Nero orchestrated the disaster for personal gain.
• 🏛️ Nero's response to the fire was to provide aid and initiate rebuilding, including the construction of the extravagant Domus Aurea.
• 💸 Financial strain and revolts in the provinces marked the decline of Nero's rule, with devaluation of currency and military failures.
• 🗡 Accusations of conspiracy and assassination attempts led to a climate of fear and further alienated Nero from the Senate.
• 🛫 Nero's extended absence from Rome and focus on the arts highlighted his disinterest in governance and military affairs.
• ⚔️ Nero's ultimate downfall was precipitated by Senate's declaration of him as an enemy of the state and widespread belief in his misdeeds.

Q & A

What is the historical significance of Genghis Khan in terms of his impact on the world's population?

Genghis Khan is speculated to have killed as much as 11% of the world's population during his reign as the leader of the Mongol Hordes, making his impact on the world's population historically significant.

What was the method Tamerlane the Great, also known as Timur, used to instill fear among his enemies?

Tamerlane the Great, also known as Timur, would build towers out of skulls as a method to instill fear among his enemies.

What drastic action did Qin Shi Huang take to consolidate his power in the first unified Chinese Empire?

Qin Shi Huang destroyed every semblance of an education system by burning books and burying scholars alive to consolidate his power in the first unified Chinese Empire.

Why is Emperor Nero often remembered as an evil leader in Roman history?

Emperor Nero is often remembered as an evil leader due to accusations that he started the great fire that destroyed Rome in A.D. 64 and for his alleged actions such as playing the fiddle while the city burned, as well as his violent personal life.

What was the original name of Emperor Nero before he became the Roman Emperor?

Emperor Nero was originally named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus before he became the Roman Emperor.

How did Nero's relationship with his mother, Agrippina The Younger, influence his reign?

Nero's relationship with his mother, Agrippina The Younger, was fraught with tension, leading to her murder after a falling out and her suspected plot to kill Nero.

What was the public's perception of Nero during the early years of his reign?

During the early years of his reign, Nero held a strong amount of support from the Roman Empire due to his youth, interest in music and the arts, and occasional acts of generosity and mercy.

Why did Nero order the execution of his first wife, Octavia?

Nero ordered the execution of Octavia because she was unable to bear a child for him, and he had grown distant from her, eventually favoring his mistress Poppaea Sabina who was pregnant with his child.

What event led to widespread speculation that Nero had orchestrated the Great Fire of Rome for his own benefit?

The construction of Nero's new palace, the Domus Aurea, which took up nearly one third of Rome, led to widespread speculation that he had orchestrated the Great Fire of Rome to clear the land for his palace.

How did Nero's handling of the aftermath of the Great Fire of Rome affect his public image?

Nero's immediate response to the fire, which included opening his palace doors to the homeless and beginning the rebuilding of the city, initially improved his public image. However, the rumors that he had caused the fire himself eventually tarnished his image.

What historical inaccuracies have been suggested regarding the story of Nero fiddling while Rome burned?

The story of Nero fiddling while Rome burned is historically inaccurate because the violin family of instruments was not invented until the 11th century, and Nero was not in Rome when the fire started.

How did Nero's reign end, and what followed his death?

Nero's reign ended with his suicide on June 9th, 68 A.D., after facing accusations of arson and murder, and the Roman Empire entered a tumultuous period known as the 'Year of Four Emperors' following his death.

What is the modern perspective on Nero's actions and character as presented in the script?

The modern perspective suggests that Nero may have been more misunderstood than outright evil, with some historians arguing that he was liked by many of his people and was more interested in the arts than in governing or military matters.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Infamous Rule of Emperor Nero

This paragraph delves into the historical portrayal of Emperor Nero as an evil leader, comparing him to fictional villains and exploring his early life, adoption by Claudius, and the influence of his mother, Agrippina. It mentions Nero's initial popularity due to his interest in arts and his acts of generosity, but also highlights the darker aspects of his rule, including the alleged murder of his mother and first wife, Octavia. The paragraph sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Nero's character and actions, questioning the popular narrative of his evilness.

05:00

🔥 The Great Fire of Rome and Nero's Downfall

This section narrates the catastrophic Great Fire of Rome in 64 A.D., which consumed two-thirds of the city over a period of nearly nine days. It discusses Nero's actions during and after the fire, such as providing shelter to the homeless and initiating the construction of the Domus Aurea. The paragraph also addresses the widespread suspicion that Nero orchestrated the fire to clear land for his palace, a theory that significantly damaged his reputation. The narrative continues with Nero's increasing paranoia, military failures, and the eventual declaration by the Senate that he was an enemy of the people, culminating in his suicide and the chaotic 'Year of Four Emperors' that followed.

10:02

🎭 Reevaluating Nero: The Misunderstood Emperor?

The final paragraph challenges the traditional view of Nero as a ruthless and power-hungry leader. It suggests that historical evidence may indicate that Nero was more misunderstood than malevolent, with a focus on the arts rather than governance. The paragraph points out the lack of concrete evidence supporting the claim that Nero started the Great Fire of Rome and highlights the possibility that he was well-liked by many of his subjects. It also considers the idea that Nero's reign was marked by a complex interplay of political intrigue and personal passion for the arts, and invites further historical scrutiny to reveal the truth about his legacy.

Keywords

💡Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan was the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, known for his military conquests and the vast empire he established. In the video, he is mentioned as an example of a historical figure whose deeds were extreme compared to fictional evil leaders, with speculations that he was responsible for the deaths of up to 11% of the world's population during his time.

💡Tamerlane the Great

Tamerlane, also known as Timur, was a Turkic-Mongol conqueror and the founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia. He is highlighted in the script for his brutal tactics, such as constructing towers from the skulls of his enemies, which exemplifies the harsh realities of historical leadership in contrast to fictional portrayals.

💡Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China, known for his significant standardizations and the construction of the Great Wall. The video references his destructive actions against the education system, such as burning books and burying scholars alive, to illustrate the harsh measures taken by real-life leaders compared to fictional characters.

💡Emperor Nero

Nero was a Roman Emperor known for his controversial and often negative historical reputation. The video's main theme revolves around his portrayal as an evil leader, discussing his early life, reign, and the various accusations and myths surrounding his actions, including the Great Fire of Rome and his treatment of family members.

💡Great Fire of Rome

The Great Fire of Rome occurred in 64 A.D. and resulted in the destruction of a large part of the city. The video script explores the widespread belief that Nero may have been responsible for starting the fire, using it as a point of discussion to examine his character and the rumors that have persisted throughout history.

💡Agrippina The Younger

Agrippina The Younger was Nero's mother and a significant figure in his rise to power. She is depicted in the script as a ruthless and manipulative character, with actions such as allegedly poisoning her husband, which contributed to the narrative of Nero's own descent into tyranny.

💡Claudia Octavia

Claudia Octavia was Nero's first wife, known for her virtue and connection to esteemed Roman families. The video discusses the tumultuous nature of their marriage and Nero's eventual decision to have her killed, which was met with public outcry and further damaged his image.

💡Poppaea Sabina

Poppaea Sabina was a mistress of Nero and later became his second wife after the death of Octavia. In the script, her relationship with Nero and the birth of their child are highlighted as factors that influenced his decision to divorce Octavia and deepened the controversy surrounding his personal life.

💡Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea, or Golden House, was a lavish palace complex built by Nero after the Great Fire of Rome. The script uses the construction of this palace as an example of Nero's perceived self-interest and the speculation that he may have orchestrated the fire to clear land for his grand project.

💡Year of Four Emperors

The 'Year of Four Emperors' refers to the chaotic period following Nero's death in 68 A.D., during which the Roman Empire saw multiple leaders rise and fall. The video script mentions this period to illustrate the instability and upheaval that occurred in the wake of Nero's controversial reign.

💡Historical Misunderstanding

The concept of historical misunderstanding is central to the video's exploration of Nero's legacy. It suggests that while some of Nero's actions were undoubtedly harsh, there may be a need to reevaluate his portrayal in history, considering the possibility that he was a misunderstood figure, more interested in the arts than in governance.

Highlights

Genghis Khan is speculated to have killed up to 11% of the world's population during his reign.

Tamerlane the Great, known as Timur, constructed towers from skulls.

Qin Shi Huang destroyed the education system by burning books and burying scholars alive.

Emperor Nero of the Roman Empire is often considered an evil leader.

Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and inherited a large estate at the age of 2.

Agrippina The Younger, Nero's mother, was known for her viciousness and had her second husband killed.

Nero became Emperor at 17, possibly due to his mother's influence in his great uncle's death.

Despite being seen as evil, Nero initially had strong support from the Roman Empire due to his love for the arts.

Nero ordered the assassination of his mother, Agrippina, after a falling out and her loss of advisors' respect.

Nero married Claudia Octavia, but their marriage was fraught with tension and he eventually had her killed.

The Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64 destroyed two-thirds of the city, and Nero was suspected of starting it to clear land for his palace.

Nero's image was tarnished by rumors of his involvement in the Great Fire and subsequent devaluation of the currency.

Nero's reign saw revolts in Judea and Britain, and he was declared an enemy of the people by the Senate.

Nero took his own life at the age of 30, leading to the chaotic 'Year of Four Emperors'.

Historians suggest that Nero may have been more misunderstood than outright evil, with some of his actions possibly exaggerated or misinterpreted.

The story of Nero fiddling while Rome burned is likely a myth, as the instrument did not exist at the time.

Nero's passion for the arts and lack of military victories may have led to a negative perception among the elite but admiration among the common people.

Nero's dying words, 'Oh, what an artist dies with me,' suggest a preference for a life in the arts over rulership.

Transcripts

Fictional evil leaders have been a mainstay of movies, novels, and tv shows.

But when it comes to deeds of real life leaders, fiction is often no competition for fact.

For example, during his reign as leader of the Mongol Hordes, it’s been speculated

that Genghis Khan killed as much as 11% of the world's population.

Tamerlane the Great, also known as Timur, would actually build towers out of skulls.

And Qin Shi Huang on his way to becoming the first unified Chinese Empire destroyed every

semblance of an education system by burning books and burying scholars alive.

But what about the famous Roman Empire?

Were there any bad ones?

The answer is simply, yes.

And the one that first comes to mind is Nero.

Emperor Nero.

A leader who, ancient writers and historians claim, not only started the great fire that

destroyed Rome in A.D. 64, but also fiddled as he watched his city burn to the ground.

With this thought in mind, we’re going to look at why Emperor Nero is the evil leader

in human history…

Or was he?

Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus on December 15th, 37 A.D..

When he was only 2, his father Gnaius Domitius Ahenobarbus died of edema and left a large

chunk of his estate to his son, however the inheritance was taken from him by the Emperor

Caligula.

Eventually Nero took the name we all know and love to hate when he reached the tender

age of 13.

It was at that time that he was adopted by his mother, Agrippina The Younger, and great

uncle, the Emperor Claudius, who by that time had succeeded Caligula following his assassination

by his guards.

Nero’s mother Agrippina was described as vicious, violent, and unforgiving.

I guess in this case you could say, like mother like son.

Agrippina even had her second husband killed.

Eventually Nero would take the reigns as Emperor at the age of 17 after his great uncle died

unexpectedly.

Some historical sources from the time claim that people saw Nero’s mother feed her husband

poisoned mushrooms, resulting in his sudden death.

Despite our perception of Nero today as an evil and hated ruler, during the years of

his reign he in fact did hold a strong amount of support from the Roman Empire.

He was young, new, and loved music and the arts, traits the general public admired in

their leader.

Occasionally he was even claimed to be “kind”.

The Roman Empire’s historian Suetonius wrote “He let slip no opportunity for acts of

generosity and mercy, or even displaying his affability”.

After only 2 years of his reign though, that affability seems to have disappeared and Nero

ordered that his mother be killed.

A gradual falling out between the two had began some time prior, eventually leading

Nero to removing her face from Roman coins.

By that time she had lost the respect of Nero’s advisors as well.

There’s multiple, contradicting, and often fantastical, reasons for why Nero ordered

his mother killed.

But the most common and often agreed upon is that she herself was actually plotting

to kill Nero!

So Nero said off with her head!

So to speak.

Nero actually ordered an accidental collision of her boat, hoping she may perish with the

sinking ships.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, she survived the initial

attempt.

Finally he ordered assassins to kill her and make it resemble a suicide.

This time she did not survive.

Nero was relieved to find that he was actually congratulated on the death of his mother.

Many high ranking officials surrounding him, along with some of the general public, suspected

his life was in danger from her plans to kill him and saw it as a fortuitous event.

On June 9th, 53 A.D., Nero married Claudia Octavia.

Their marriage was not a pleasant one.

Octavia was described by the Roman senator and historian Tacitus as an “aristocratic

and virtuous wife”, meaning she had moral standards and wanted to honor her husband.

Nero, on the other hand, was quite different.

He was immediately bored and angered by his new wife’s mindset, as it deviated strongly

from what he wanted out of a wife.

On occasion, a rage filled and frustrated Nero would even attempt to strangle Octavia.

But perhaps the biggest issue for Nero was that Octavia was unable to bear a child for

him.

With no child, there would be no heir to his throne.

Eventually Nero began having affairs with different women, one being a freedwoman named

Poppaea Sabina.

After she became pregnant with Nero’s child, Nero decided to divorce his wife for Poppaea

. Together Nero and Poppaea banished Octavia from Nero’s empire.

However, Nero did not expect the backlash that came from his people.

Many Roman citizens very much liked Octavia and protested severely the banishment of her

from the empire.

They carried statues of her through the city and the protests were so large that Nero briefly

considered remarrying her to calm the people.

Nero feared that the only reason the Romans saw him as their leader was his association

with Octavia and her connection to past royal families.

So after much deliberation, Nero did the next best thing to remarrying his estranged wife

- he had her killed.

He hoped this would instill some fear and prove his strong leadership to the people.

Octavia was put to death in a traditional Roman Suicide Ritual on June 8th, 62 A.D.

Only 2 years later, Rome burned.

The now infamous incident began on the evening of July 18th, 64 A.D.

The fire ignited on the Aventine Hill, one of the seven slopes that Rome is built on,

overlooking the Circus Maximus.

The fire burned for nearly 6 days before it could be somewhat controlled, only to reignite

once again and burn uncontrolled for another 3 days.

Over a total of nearly 9 days, two thirds of Rome has burned to the ground.

Just about 70% of the city was completely destroyed.

Homes, temples, markets, all burned to the ground.

Nero, at the time, was not himself actually in Rome.

He was at his villa in Antium which is about 35 miles away from Rome, though he rushed

back immediately upon hearing the news.

Once back in Rome, Nero immediately opened his palace doors for the now homeless people

of Rome and offered shelter and food.

He was quick in his desire to begin rebuilding the city...and conveniently, a new palace

for himself called the Domus Aurea, which in latin means Golden House.

It was a massive palace complex that would eventually take up nearly one third of Rome.

The construction of the new palace is what lead to many Roman citizens speculating that

Nero had ordered the Great Fire of Rome himself, a devious plan that would allow him to clear

the land to build the palace of his dreams while also allowing him to spin his public

image by being the charitable ruler who opened his doors to his people when they needed help.

Although he got the palace he wanted, him image was irrevocably tarnished as the rumors

spread quickly and escalated.

It was at this time that Nero’s decline truly began.

The rebuilding costs of Rome were high and forced him to devalue the imperial currency

by 10%.

Revolts in the Roman provinces of Judea and Britain were also escalating.

Nero suspected that there were high level conspiracies originating in the Senate to

have him assassinated, which he decided he could only prevent by having them killed first.

With unrest growing in Rome, Nero took an extended 15 month trip to Greece.

There his passion for art grew and he gave himself to music, sports, and theatrical performances.

When he finally did return back to Rome in 68 A.D., he found even more unrest in the

city.

He had grown more distant from military decisions and completely failed to respond to an urgent

revolt in Gaul as well as growing tensions in Africa and Spain.

Finally at their wits end, the Senate made a bold move and announced that Nero was an

enemy of the people.

Soon, everything Nero had done as emperor seemed to finally come to a head and his world

began closing in on him.

Many people believed it was him that started the Great Fire of Rome and that he had killed

his Mother, his first wife, and now new rumors popped up that he had killed his second wife

too.

Nero attempted to flee the city that by now had completely turned on him.

Learning that his arrest and execution were imminent, Nero decided to fall back on his

favorite move, killing, this time though he took his own life on June 9th, 68 A.D..

He was 30 years old.

Immediately following Nero’s death, the Roman Empire went through one of its most

tumultuous periods.

It was pure and total chaos with multiple Emperors taking control and getting killed

before they could even do anything.

It became known as the “Year of Four Emperors”.

Tacitus described it as “ a period rich in disasters.

Even in peace, full of horrors”.

If someone kills their own mother, their first wife, possibly their second and pregnant wife,

and maybe even burned down an entire city they were ruling, you may look at them in

a bad light too.

It is true that Nero did some pretty bad things.

But as time has moved far away from these events and historians have continued to study

the rise and fall of the Roman empire, and even more specifically the rise and fall of

Nero, many have found that he may have been more misunderstood than downright evil.

And maybe, just maybe, history should have painted him in a different light.

Let's first start with the famous image of Nero fiddling as Rome burned.

First of all, the year was 64 A.D and the viol family of instruments which includes

fiddles, was not even invented until sometime around the 11th century.

So there is zero chance that he could have been fiddling at the time.

Second, as we talked about earlier, Nero wasn't even in Rome when it began burning.

He was 35 miles away in his villa.

Is it possible that Nero did order the burning of Rome, even though he wasn't there, and

most likely not playing an instrument as it happened?

Yes that’s possible.

But there is still no concrete evidence to date to support it.

And it seems more likely that the whole story is folklore created after the events took

place.

But what about the terrible acts he committed as a ruler?

The murders, the scheming, and plots?

Again, some of them probably yes.

But as more and more historical data is uncovered, we’re finding that Nero was actually liked

by many of his people at the time.

It’s clear that he was always more interested in the Arts than actually governing, and certainly

less interested in dealing with the military.

Because of this, he did not have the advantage of military victories and the fame, success,

and adoration that came along with being a military hero that many other Emperors and

leaders of Rome have had, which probably meant that many elite Romans in the Senate hated

Nero, while the citizens celebrated his devotion to local issues.

Historian Rebecca Benefiel said “If it had been up to him, he probably wouldn't have

chosen to be Emperor at all”.

We have to remember that he was adopted into this position and ultimately groomed to become

an Emperor.

Given the choice, he may have chosen the life of an actor, or a musician, rather than be

the leader of the world’s largest empire.

This is even reinforced by his dying words as he took his own life - “Oh, what an artist

dies with me”.

Ultimately, Nero’s reign was a confusing one, with all sorts of ups and downs, and

judging it is rather hard.

He most certainly earned his reputation as a paranoid murderous ruler, also probably

deserves some revaluation by historians to really see what happened while he was in power.

Was Nero the hated, violent, and power hungry leader we were told?

Or was his a misunderstood, misplaced, and art loving leader that the common people loved?

Only further study and time will tell on this one!

What do you think is the truth about Nero?

Tell us in the comments.

Also, be sure to check out our other video The Horrible Life of an Average Roman Empire

Slave.

Thanks for watching, and as always, don’t forget to like, share and subscribe.

See you next time.

Do you love strange, unexpected, stories that defy belief, but are completely true?

Then you'll love the new show "I Am."

Fascinating tales told from the perspective of those who lived them.

Find out what it was like to be a plague doctor during an outbreak of the black death, or

the captain of the Titanic as it sank into the sea.

Each episode, you'll jump inside the mind of a new person and get a first person view

on incredible events like no other.

New episodes every week!

Be one of the first to subscribe now and tell us who you want to see brought to life in

"I Am"!