Did Nero Commit Suicide?

         Nero is described in history as a monster. His treatment of Christians was gruesome. Nero executed Christians through crucifixion, fire, and wild beasts. (Champlin 104). Nero was responsible for the deaths of his mother, brother, and both of his wives (Champlin 103). According to some rumors from Nero’s time, Nero started a fire in Rome (Champlin 104). He then tried to build a gold palace on the ashes (Champlin 106). An English poem even claims that Nero was singing as he watched Rome burn (Champlin 104). However, Nero may not have been quite as terrible as it is believed. As for the fire in Rome, there isn’t any evidence aside from rumors (Champlin 104). In any event, he was most certainly not singing as he watched the city burn (Champlin 104). Nero was not in Rome when the fire started, but, when he returned he sent relief to his citizens (Champlin 103). Also, the method by which the Christians were executed was common for the day (Champlin 104). Nero blamed the fire on the Christians because they were a small, unpopular sect (Champlin 103-4). Nero may have been a monster, but he was loved by the people of Rome (Champlin 97). Even after his presumed death, many Romans hoped for his return (Champlin 97). Nero was likely no worse than many other powerful rulers.

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         In his early life, Nero was controlled by his mother (Shotter 12-14). Nero’s mother sought power (Shotter 8-9). She married the emperor and had her son made emperor to this end (Shotter 8-10). Her desire for power led to conflict between them and is ultimately the reason behind her death (Shotter 12-14, Champlin 99-100). Her machinations also led to the assassination of Nero’s brother. She had threatened to support him if Nero did not obey her so Nero poisoned him (Shotter 12). Nero’s desire to be free from control may also have been what drove him to the theater. Nero would play any role (Champlin 99). A joke even went around about a soldier asking “What is the emperor doing?” and the reply was that Nero was in labor (Champlin 102). However, with his freedom, he was careless and selfish. When he fell in love, he abandoned and later killed his first wife (Tacitus Book 14, Chapter 62). Nero engaged in many affairs while being married (Shotter 12). When a subordinate claimed that he knew where a cave of gold was through a dream, Nero hastily sent men to retrieve the nonexistent gold (Yardley, etc. 377). Nero did not bother to check the validity of the gold and spread word of the gold (Yardley, etc. 377). Nero may have been powerful, but he also made numerous mistakes.

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         Nero was likely egocentric. After the fire in Rome, he presented himself as the god Helios or Sol (Champlin 105-6). When his mother and second wife died, Nero used their deaths as a way of enhancing his public image (Champlin 100-3). After Rome burned, he scapegoated and executed Christians (Champlin 103-4). Whenever Nero competed in anything, he won (Champlin 97). He even won a chariot race despite falling out of his chariot. (Champlin 97). Nero also tried to build a golden palace in the ashes of Rome (Champlin 105-7). While in the theater, Nero enjoyed playing the hero but would play any role (Champlin 99). He was approved of by the people and this doubtless influenced his continued participation in theater (Champlin 99).