Nero's Accession and the Role of Agrippina Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the term that refers to the initial five-year period of Nero’s reign?
Quinquennium aureum
This term is used to describe the golden five-year period at the start of Nero’s rule.
Which notable criticism is consistently aimed at Nero regarding his values?
Philhellenism
This implies a disregard for traditional Roman values in favor of Greek culture.
What was Nero’s role in deifying his adopted father?
He performed the deification as part of his expected duties during the quinquennium aureum.
This action is mentioned by Tacitus in the Annals.
What activity did Nero engage in during his two-year tour of Greece?
Performing in various festivals, including music and theatre.
Suetonius details Nero’s love for music and theatre.
What was one of Nero’s long-held desires related to sports?
To stand in the racer of a four-horse team.
This desire reflects his interest in chariot racing, as noted by Tacitus.
What aspects of Nero’s character are highlighted by Suetonius and Dio?
Social, religious, and sexual excesses.
These excesses are a consistent theme in the portrayal of Nero.
What did Nero portray himself as in 62 AD?
A lyre player.
This self-portrayal is part of his celebration of culture.
What was the significance of the Colossus statue during Nero’s reign?
It became a symbol of self-indulgence and Nero’s desire for immortality in the arts.
The statue was a bronze representation placed near the center of the city.
How was Nero’s accession to the throne stage-managed?
By key figures in the imperial household: Agrippina, Burrus, and Seneca.
This manipulation was crucial in securing Nero’s position as emperor.
At what age did Nero ascend to the throne?
16 years old.
Nero became emperor in 54 AD.
What was the fate of Britannicus during Nero’s rise to power?
He was delayed in the palace by Agrippina.
This was part of the political maneuvering surrounding Nero’s accession.
What major conflict arose regarding influence over Nero?
Agrippina, Seneca, and Burrus competed to guide him.
Agrippina’s powerful influence was eventually challenged by Seneca and Burrus.
What drastic action did Nero take against Britannicus?
He murdered him in 55 AD.
This act was a response to Agrippina’s threat to support Britannicus’ claim to the throne.
What accounts detail Nero’s plots to kill Agrippina?
Tacitus 14.3-11 and Suetonius Nero 34.
These sources provide insight into the motivations behind her murder.
In what year was Agrippina removed from power?
59 AD.
Her removal marked a significant shift in Nero’s governance.
What was the effect of Agrippina’s removal on Nero’s reign?
He began to ignore all his advisors.
This change indicated a shift in Nero’s leadership style after the quinquennium.
What precedent did the involvement of Burrus and Seneca in Agrippina’s removal set?
It set a precedent for their own removal.
This reflects the volatile nature of power dynamics in Nero’s court.
