Nero's reign marked the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Starting as a young emperor guided by advisors, he became increasingly tyrannical. His actions, including the persecution of Christians and lavish spending, led to his downfall and suicide in 68 CE.

The Year of the Four Emperors followed Nero's death, plunging Rome into chaos. Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian all vied for power in 69 CE. Vespasian emerged victorious, establishing the Flavian dynasty and restoring stability to the empire.

Nero's Reign

Early Reign and Advisors

• Nero became emperor at age 16 in 54 CE after the death of his adoptive father Claudius
• Initially ruled with the guidance of his mother Agrippina the Younger, his tutor Seneca the Younger, and the Praetorian Prefect Burrus
• Seneca, a Stoic philosopher, served as Nero's advisor and tutor helped shape his early policies and speeches
• Agrippina's influence waned over time as Nero asserted his own authority and had her murdered in 59 CE
• Burrus died in 62 CE, leaving Seneca as Nero's main advisor until Seneca retired in 62 CE

Great Fire of Rome and Persecution of Christians

• In 64 CE, a great fire broke out in Rome, destroying much of the city
• Rumors circulated that Nero started the fire to clear land for his new palace, the Domus Aurea (Golden House)
• To deflect blame, Nero accused the Christians of starting the fire, leading to the first official persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
• Christians were arrested, tortured, and executed in brutal ways (crucifixion, burning alive, mauled by dogs)
• Nero used the cleared land to build his lavish Domus Aurea palace complex, which included a colossal statue of himself, the Colossus of Nero

Poppaea Sabina and Later Reign

• Poppaea Sabina was Nero's second wife, whom he married in 62 CE after divorcing his first wife Octavia
• Poppaea was a powerful influence on Nero and encouraged his extravagant and tyrannical behavior
• In 65 CE, the Pisonian conspiracy, a plot to assassinate Nero, was uncovered and brutally suppressed
• Many prominent Romans were implicated and forced to commit suicide, including the poet Lucan and Petronius, the author of the Satyricon
• Nero's reign became increasingly erratic and despotic, with executions of rivals and confiscation of property
• Faced with rebellion and the defection of the Praetorian Guard in 68 CE, Nero committed suicide, ending the Julio-Claudian dynasty

Year of the Four Emperors

Galba and Otho

• After Nero's death, Galba, governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, was declared emperor by his troops in 68 CE
• Galba's strict discipline and curtailing of privileges made him unpopular with the Praetorian Guard
• In January 69 CE, Otho, former governor of Lusitania, had Galba assassinated and was declared emperor by the Praetorian Guard
• Otho's reign was challenged by Vitellius, governor of Germania Inferior, whose troops proclaimed him emperor

Vitellius and Vespasian

• Vitellius marched on Rome, defeated Otho's forces at the First Battle of Bedriacum in April 69 CE
• Otho committed suicide after his defeat, allowing Vitellius to become emperor
• Vitellius faced challenges from Vespasian, commander of the Roman forces in Judea, who was proclaimed emperor by his troops in July 69 CE
• Vespasian's forces, led by Marcus Antonius Primus, defeated Vitellius' troops at the Second Battle of Bedriacum in October 69 CE
• Vitellius was captured and executed in Rome in December 69 CE, leaving Vespasian as the sole emperor
• Vespasian's accession marked the start of the Flavian dynasty and a return to stability after a year of civil war and turmoil