Ancient History: Roman Emperors

This webpage provides a biography with footnotes, about the Roman Emperor Nero, who was born in 37 AD and ruled 54-68 AD.

This page from the Classics Unveiled website looks in detail at the people (Augustus, Claudius and Nero) and events (Trajan's Wars and the invasion of Britain) of the Roman Empire between 27BC and 102AD. It links to earlier and later historical information on rulers and emperors, timelines, historical sites and a quiz.

Entry from Encylopedia Britannica on Nero. This is the more detailed version of the Encyclopedia that the College subscribes to. Therefore you must be logged in to Pymble to view this entry.

Article published in The Conversation exploring the myths surrounding Nero. Written by researchers from Macquarie University and The University of Queensland.

Biographical entry on Nero from BBC History.

An overview of Nero from The History Channel site.

A detailed account on Nero with links to ancient and modern sources.

A collection of sources exploring the behaviour and rule of Nero. From the University of Chicago.

Article from the National Geographic.
He killed two of his wives and possibly his mother. He may have presided over the burning of Rome. But he never fiddled, and now some scholars say he wasn’t all bad.

A HistoryExtra article on some of the most ruthless Roman emperors. Features Nero.

Written by Olivier Hekster, Erika Manders and Danielle Slootjes.

Written by Edward Champlin

Written by Susan A. Curry

Written by John Mouratidis

From La Trobe University.
At the age of 17, Nero is the youngest Emperor yet. Through influence and guidance he takes Rome through what is called ‘five good years’, but it isn’t going to last.

Podcast from La Trobe University.
Nero’s biggest test as an Emperor came when a great fire tore through Rome in 64AD. What caused this fire and how Nero acted and reacted is a debate that academics continue to this day.

From La Trobe University.
Nero always seemed more interested in a playboy lifestyle than managing Rome, and this angered the people of Rome, the Senate and the military.

Claudius is dead, and who should emerge as the new imperator … none other than Nero, the son of Agrippina. Herein we consider Nero and Agrippina.
While we explore the early years of Nero’s rule under the guidance of his mother Agrippina the Younger, we also consider the influential roles of Seneca and Burrus.
Podcast from the Partial Historians.

Join us for an exploration of the end of of the Julio-Claudians. This family changed the governance of Rome forever. As the first dynasty of the imperial period they set the stage for the imperialism to come. The culmination of the family is Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, but boy, how do things come to end! Herein, we consider the loves, the losses, and the scandals.
Podcast from the Partial Historians.