My Roman Empire: The Death of Nero

Emperor Nero's reign from 54 AD to 68 AD is marked by monstrous tyranny and horrific acts that have left an indelible stain on history.

Nero Was a Tyrannical Ruler Known For Cruelty and Destruction

Nero Set Rome On Fire In 64 AD for His "Golden House" Palace

Nero had grandiose plans for Rome, and to see these plans through, he is infamously believed to have set the city on fire in 64 AD. Carter Roy points out that Nero was reportedly captivated by the fire's beauty and had already made provisions to use the cleared land to construct his "Golden House," an opulent palace that was to include a vineyard, a mile-long porch, and an immense statue of himself.

Although some historical accounts suggest Nero started the fire to help with his construction project, it's important to note that he was in Anzio when the chaos began. Upon learning of the disaster, Nero hastened back to Rome.

Nero Blamed and Persecuted Christians For the Fire, Torturing and Executing Many

In spite of being 35 miles away in Anzio as the fire started, Nero conveniently accused the Christians of igniting the blaze. On his orders, Rome saw the horrific persecution of Christians; they were rounded up, arrested, and subjected to brutal torture. Forced under duress, some admitted to the crime and were executed in ghastly fashions, such as being torn apart by dogs, cru ...

The Roman Empire once teetered on the edge of change when a conspiracy sought to assassinate Emperor Nero and end his rule.

Plot to Assassinate Nero and Install New Leader

Plot to Burn Nero's Palace and Assassinate Him

A group of Roman senators, soldiers, and ordinary citizens, driven by motivations ranging from the belief that Nero had started the Great Fire to seeking vengeance for his mother's murder, had conspired to kill him. Among the conspirators was a zealous freedwoman named Epicharis. Subrius Flavius, a member of Nero's guard, had a mission to set Nero's palace on fire, provocatively drawing Nero into the streets where he would be vulnerable and easier to assassinate. The plot also included installing a new leader, Gaius Calpurnius Piso, a nobleman seen as capable of restoring honor to Rome.

Conspiracy Uncovered: Nero Executed Plotters, Including Senators

However, the conspiracy was foiled. Voulusius Proculis informed Nero about the plot, which led to the capture of Epicharis for questioning. The plan considered killing Nero at Piso's house and at the Circus Maximus during celebrations, but none of these came to fruition. It was under torture that another conspirator, Scavenus, revealed the entire plot and named co-conspirators.

Nero responded by arresting around 67 people, including senators and members of his own guard. While some conspirators were exiled, many were executed. Piso was commanded to die by suicide, and although he did not initiate the conspiracy, he was heavily implicated and intended to benefit by becoming the next empe ...

Debates continue to swirl around the mysterious death of Roman Emperor Nero, with theories ranging from suicide and assassination to a faked death and escape.

Nero Died by Suicide In 68 AD to Avoid Execution by Senate and Praetorian Guard

Historical accounts typically state that Nero took his own life in 68 AD to avoid a violent execution by the Senate and the Praetorian Guard. To evade torture and execution, he chose death by his own terms. Hiding with his secretary Epaphroditus as the guards closed in, Nero, hearing the horses of the guards, ordered Epaphroditus to stab him, ending his life.

Historians Suggest Nero's Suicide May Be an Assassination Cover-Up

Some modern historians and theorists, however, believe that the popular narrative of Nero's suicide might be incorrect. There's speculation that Galba, who led a coup for the throne, might have had Nero secretly assassinated. This theory is strengthened by the belief that Epaphroditus was more participant than assistant in Nero's death. Instead of preventing the emperor's death as he was supposed to, it's suggested he might have facilitated or even directly caused it. There are also claims that Nero's alleged suicide by violent self-infliction, a line described by an ancient Christian historian, might have been a carefully crafted cover-up to prevent further investigation into his sudden demise.

Claims of Nero Faking Death and Escaping, With Others Later Claiming to Be "Returned" Nero

The ambiguity surrounding Nero’s death led to a wild theory that he did not actually die but instead orchestrated an escape. The private nature of his funeral and the inability of the public to see his body or pay final respects fueled speculation that Nero might have set up a decoy to die in his place. This was seemingly supported when a man landed on Kithinos Island a year after Nero's supposed suicide, claiming to be the emperor and even looking like him.

This theory gained traction when Tacitus recorded instances of at least two pretenders who surfaced posthumously, claiming to be Nero and gathering ...

Scholars have long proposed that Emperor Nero was represented as the Antichrist or "Beast" in the Book of Revelation, with various pieces of evidence and codified language adding weight to this theory.

Scholars Propose Nero as "Beast" in Revelation

The intriguing connections between Nero and the Antichrist in Revelation have sparked scholarly debate for centuries.

Antichrist Matches Nero: Number 666

Christian scholars who studied Revelation have often pointed out that the number associated with the Antichrist, 666, corresponds to a Gomatria, a Hebrew numerical system, calculation of Nero's name. When transliterated into Hebrew, Nero’s name computed to 666. Interestingly, some ancient copies of Revelation cite the number as 616, which correlates to Nero’s Roman name through Gomatria, showing how both numbers have associations with Nero.

Book Written Post-Nero's Death; Coded References to Avoid Persecution

Revelation was composed approximately 30 years after Nero's suicide, a time when Nero's reputation among Christians had markedly deteriorated. Owing to the circumstances of the time, including the persecution of Christians, it is proposed that John, the author of Revelation, employed symbolic and coded language to describe Nero as the Antichrist without explicitly naming him, avoiding the risk of exacerbating the persecution.

The notion of the beast having "seven heads" with one appearing to have a "mortal wound" that was healed alludes to an enduring rumor about Nero’s return. Since Rome was known as the city on seven hills, the reference to "seven mountains" could further hint at Rome and by extension, Nero, fulfilling ...