Agrippina was the mother of the Emperor Nero. Her influence on politics and her ambition dates back to his birth and spans till the time her powers began to decrease, and eventual assassination in 59 AD. Nero was 17 at the time he succeeded Claudius. In the early years of his reign, Agrippina held great influence over her son and political affairs. However her downfall began in his inaugural address, when she was indirectly denounced by Nero, who later began to rely on others, such as Seneca, Burrus and Poppaea Sabina.…
Flavia died before Vespasian's emperorship and after her death Vespasian returned to his former mistress, Caenis, who had been secretary of Antonia, (daughter of Marc Anthony and mother of Claudius). Caenis apparently exerted considerable influence over Vespasian and remarried his wife in all but name, even after he became emperor.…
The Rape of Lucretia is a legend that was important to the Romans. It was a tragedy about a Roman matron woman who commits suicide. The story is important because it expresses the role of married women in the Roman civilization. It describes what behavior the Romans considered appropriate for a typical Roman wife. From reading this excerpt from the History of Rome, one learns that a women’s worth is based on their virtue, men considered their wives as possessions, and rape enraged the Roman population.…
During its reign many illustrious leaders including Augustus and the Five Great Emperors governed the Roman Empire. Rome’s revolutionary government was the one of the main reasons the Empire survived as long as it did, with the exception of the military. The probable cause of the corruption of the emperors is because humans are not meant to be idols. Emperors such as Tiberius, Nero and Elagabalus engaged in immoral and self-absorbed behavior. Nero, an emperor whose reign preceded the fall of the Western Empire, is considered to be the most insane to exist.…
differ and believed the death was on account of poison from Nero’s behalf. After his…
The myths were passed down for generations and even to this day many people believe that he started the Great Fire of Rome. Based on historical facts, during this time period, there was not any fiddles. Also myths were spread about on how he tried to deny he started the fire and blame it on Christians, which he actually blamed it on the Egyptian cult, Isis. People started these rumors on Nero because of all the murders he ordered on people. Although Nero did order someone to murder his mother, wife, and step-brother, the fire in Rome could not be started by him. It is reasonable to believe Nero started the fire because he went through with numerous murders, but he could not have started a fire if he was not present during it. Also it is believed Nero paid people to start the fire, but if he did then why would he make efforts to shelter those who survived the…
Agrippina the Younger was an Empress. Her rank in Roman society was higher than that of her husband, as she was the sister of an emperor, Caligula. Because she was so high up, she was allowed to attend senate meetings and watch and listen behind a curtain. Agrippina murdered and deceived many people throughout her life. The first of these was her second husband, who it is suspected Agrippina poisoned. She then convinced Claudius, her Uncle to marry her, in order that her son, Nero, would become Emperor. Just 4 years after her marriage to Claudius, she murdered him so that Nero became the Emperor of Rome.…
While in exile, Agrippina’s husband Ahenobarbus died of dropsy and her son was sent to live with a relative of Caligula. Caligula used the death of Ahenobarbus to seize most of Lucius’s assets and inheritance, essentially leaving him in poverty (Agrippina the Younger). Potentially alienating the entire empire including his Praetorian Guard with his bizarre and erratic behavior, Caligula, his wife, and his daughter were murdered on January 24 AD 41. (Agrippina II). After his assassination, Caligula was replaced by his paternal uncle, Tiberius Claudius Caesar. Better known as Claudius, Tiberius Claudius Caesar lifted the exile on his nieces, Agrippina and Livilla, restored their properties and wealth, and reinstated his nephew Lucius’s inheritance…
admission. The work I have chosen to compare this novel to is the classic play…
He killed his mother, step-brother and two wives, but did he? He killed the Christians and many senates, but did he? He burnt Rome and built his palace upon the burnt remains of the city, but did he? Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus or more known as Rome’s youngest emperor, Nero. He rose into power and became the ruler of the world's largest, most powerful and dominant empire; the Roman Empire, only at the age of 17. His mother; Agrippina the Younger is known to be the main reason behind his imperial power, as her desires to control were fulfilled through her control of him, thus she was indirectly ruling the Empire through her young son. Moreover, Rome’s new young and loved emperor was soon hated and blamed for many crimes that he may or may not…
While initially seen as a fair ruler this can be most contributed to the level heads and knowledge given from those who primarily advised the young ruler, and as his advisers left him to his own resources we can see the slow decline and shift in Emperor Nero’s priorities and desires. His perceived lack of caring for the support of the Roman people that eventually promulgated his down fall and resulted in his death. In other words best intentions are often laid barren and to waste when focus is…
At the beginning of Nero’s rule, he was said to be a fair Emperor, but as his power increased his regards to what is just or unjust vanished. Nero did not consider himself subjected to laws. He took advantage of his power and used it for his own personal gain, simply because there was no one with the authority to make him stop. He killed anyone he considered a threat to his throne including his own mother, Agrippina. Nero spent large amounts of the Empire’s money for his own artistic pursuits. He even took money from temples in Rome in order to build himself an extravagant villa. He was not forced to follow any laws because he was the Emperor; therefore, he chose to disregard laws and do as he pleased. He lived extravagantly and irresponsibly; he was not concerned with doing what was considered just or fair.[bonus…
Because Titus is a general and warrior, he is rash and decisive, which is the exact opposite of Hamlet. As stated before, Titus is quick to sacrifice Alarbus despite Tamora begging him not to. Another example of Titus’ rashness is at the beginning of the play when Titus chooses Saturnius to be emperor and gives his daughter Lavinia to Saturnius to marry. Saturnius’ brother Bassianus is engaged to Lavinia, and the two run away together to get eloped. Titus attempts to go after them, and kills his son Mutius without hesitation when Mutius blocked Titus’ way. Titus quickly killed his own son without pondering on it simply because Mutius went against his father to support his sister, which supports that Titus is a man of brutal action. In contrast to Titus, it is very easy to see that at the start of the play Hamlet is far from a man of action, and can easily be seen as a snarky teenager despite his real age of thirty years. Hamlet’s father has died, and because Hamlet was studying in Wittenberg, his uncle Claudius has assumed the throne and Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet expresses his distress in the second scene of the first act when replying to Claudius with “A little more than kin, and less than kind” (1.2.65). Hamlet is also quite rude to his mother as well, but her and Claudius’ marriage not even two months after his father’s death gives him reason to be. Both…
The topic I chose to discuss would happen to be none other than “Option 2”, which refers to the article I have recently read titled “Why My Mother Wants Me Dead” by Sabatina James. According to the story it sums up family tradition and religion to have selected marriage partners for teen girls and strict guidelines. Certain acts such as not wanting to marry the partner selected for you by the parents can result in family disownment and death. The mother of Sabatina happens to withhold full authority in her life which effected her in a sense as well as forcing her to act against the marriage arrangements. In response to the option I selected, I feel the do’s of being a parent raising a healthy child consists of rules and laws. Although the child…
The emperor Nero has an interesting story. He is most known for killing his mother, persecuting Christians, and being blamed for the Great Fire in Rome. There is much that we do not know about him and his life. Still, what is known has sparked excitement in many historians. Nero did not have the happiest childhood.…