v08_0170 - NERO Dupondius, (MB, Æ 29)

NERO

(13/10/54-9/06/68)

Augustus

Nero is certainly one of the best-known emperors, thanks to Tacitus and Suetonius, but also one of the most decried. He is the last representative of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Son of Agrippina, Claudius' second wife, and Cneius Domitius Ahenobarbus, he was born in 37. He descends from both Augustus through his mother and Julie through his maternal grandfather, Germanicus. After the assassination of Claude by Agrippina with the help of Locuste in 54, aged 17, he began his reign under good auspices. Aided by Seneca, his tutor, and Burrus, prefect of the Praetorium, he governed intelligently with the Senate. He married Octavie, daughter of Claudius and Messalina. Octavie's brother, Britannicus, dies under mysterious conditions in AD 55 (poisoned?). After the "quinquennum aureum" (54-59), the emperor had or allowed his mother to be murdered. The last nine years of the reign will destabilize the principate.