Nero lived a disruptive life as a Roman Emperor. Some Roman inhabitants may have said that Nero’s reign pleased them, but most could agree that he became one of the worst emperors in history. Nero’s soul consisted of pure evil and wickedness. He thrived off of torturing the public. Seeing people in pain brought him happiness. In fact, once, while riding in his chariot, he ran over a young child for pleasure. These grotesque characteristics caused many Romans to see him as the Antichrist. Despite these qualities, Nero also encouraged things such as athleticism and Roman events or celebrations. This support seemed to charm some of the Roman population. Nero also showed signs of narcissism and selfishness. By examining the life, the goals, and the reign of Nero, one can better appreciate the Roman Emperor. Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina gave birth to their son Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, later renamed Nero by Emperor Claudius, in Antium, Italy on the fifteenth of December in 37 A.D1. After becoming informed of his birth, many people of the public began to formulate direful expectations, according to his horoscope, Sagittarius. Nero lost his father at the age of three. Soon after, his mother became banished from Rome, leaving Nero in the hands of his aunt, Lepida, who provided him with a dancer and a barber to mentor him2. She also had Nero enlightened of the classical tradition by the Senate, Seneca3Nero later showed boundless confidence and triumph while performing in the Circus at Troy4.
Later, after Agrippina’s return to Rome, Emperor Claudius found an attraction to the mother of Nero, later receiving her hand in marriage5. Agrippina wished so badly for her son to become emperor, and begged her new husband to adopt Nero as his heir, along with his natural son, Britannicus. Claudius proceeded with his new wife’s wish and brought Nero into his family. When she saw that Britannicus showed signs of becoming favored as the next emperor, Agrippina poisoned Claudius, bringing him to his death shortly after. Because Claudius had adopted Nero, born four years before Britannicus, Nero became the next emperor of Rome after Claudius’ death. Nero’s mother obviously wanted to gain control through him. Her face even appeared next to Nero’s on money, such as coins6. To keep suspicions from rising within the public, Agrippina banished the Astrologers from Rome, in order to rid of the ghastly horoscopes in which involved Nero. Agrippina completely overcame the power of Claudius, for Claudius, constantly stuck in the midst of social derision, could not successfully handle the Roman public socially, especially women. Claudius eventually conceived an illness, leaving many opportunities for Agrippina to take advantage of. Nero held horse-races in hopes of raising his popularity among the Roman population. After Agrippina set these schemes into motion, Agrippina had one last thought in mind that sent Rome into a period of struggle7.
Nero’s mother sent for a woman, sentenced for poisoning and possessing an immense reputation of crime, who went by the name of Locusta. Agrippina demanded Locusta to bring forth a poison that lead to death. Locusta returned with a poison-infused mushroom, a Roman delicacy, in which would be ingested by Emperor Claudius, thus murdering him. This horrid plan caught Agrippina by surprise, when she discovered that the plan had failed to follow through correctly. Instead, because of his intoxication, the toxic toadstool only caused Claudius to release the poisons from his body through his bowels, before they could successfully take effect. Following the attempt of this murder, Claudius only became ill. A physician then visited Claudius, who thought the doctor would heal him. It is supposed that the doctor only inserted a feather smothered with poison into the throat of the sickly emperor. This virulent plume sent Emperor Claudius into a lifeless state of death, and welcomed Nero onto the throne.