nero: the benefits dr david w.j. gill university of wales swansea
TRANSCRIPT
The ‘quinquennium’The ‘quinquennium’
A golden age for the first five years Trajan perceived it as a golden age of good
government (Aur. Victor, Epitome 5)
Nero’s first speech to the Nero’s first speech to the SenateSenate
Suetonius, Nero 10– to rule according to Augustan precedent
Tacitus, Ann. 13.4– renunciation of the abuses of the Claudian
regime– ‘From my house, bribery and favouritism will
be excluded’– ‘these promises were implemented’
Accession speechAccession speech
‘Italy and the public provinces could apply to the tribunals of the consuls, who would give access to the senate’– this led to:
e.g. 58 people and council of Puteoli making mutual accusations
Syracuse: increase the pairs of gladiators in their games
59: riot between Nuceria and Pompeii
Nero and the senateNero and the senate
appearance of ‘ex s c’ on coinage (‘in accordance with senatorial decree’)– for first ten years
Aspects of the Golden AgeAspects of the Golden Age
Nero refused portrait statues of himself (Tac. Ann. 13)
Allowed his co-consul not to swear an oath of allegiance to him as emperor– praised by the Senate (Tac. Ann. 13)
Noted for clemency
Nero and popular supportNero and popular support
provided entertainment: Suet. Ner. 11. fair judge: Suet. Ner. 15 limits on private expenditure: Suet. Ner. 16
– sumptuary law checks on forgery: Suet. Ner. 16 some governors charged with corruption outlawed illegal taxes ‘invented’ by publicani
(Tac. Ann. 13.51)
Food supplyFood supply
series of food shortages at Rome– AD 51: bad harvest and subsequent food crisis
Claudius pelted in the forum
– AD 62: old grain disposed off at Rome (Tac. Ann. 15.18)
price of grain not raised 200 grain ships lost at Ostia due to storm 100 grain ships lost at Rome due to a fire
Further food shortagesFurther food shortages
AD 64: Great Fire at Rome– city left without grain stocks– essential food brought up from Ostia– Nero imposed a maximum price of 3 HS /
modius– governor of Moesia (Lower Danube)
the first who ‘brought relief to the food supply of the Roman people by sending a great quantity of wheat from that province’
Faenius RufusFaenius Rufus
appointed prefect of the grain supply AD 55–62– according to Tacitus (Ann. 14.51) he did not
profit from the post in the usual way e.g. withhold grain to push up prices
Harbour facilitiesHarbour facilities
Nero completed Claudius’ plans for the harbour at Ostia– secured corn supply– coins issued with new harbour
‘the Emperor’s Ostia harbour’ harbours and jetties
Generosity to the plebsGenerosity to the plebs
coins showing the congiarium– distributions to the plebs
Minerva and her owl Liberalitas holding tray Nero handing coins to a man and small child
Suet. Nero. 10– ‘he presented the plebs with 40 gold pieces
each’
Fair judgeFair judge
Suet. Ner. 10 ‘never missed an opportunity of being generous or
merciful, or of showing what a good companion he was’
Suet. Ner. 15 ‘When he judged a case he preferred to defer his
judgement until the following day, and then give it in writing ...’
‘[he] mulled over documents in private, [and] came to his own conclusion ...’
Reduction of taxesReduction of taxes
Suet. Ner. 10– ‘he lowered, if he could not abolish, some of
the heavier taxes; and reduced by three-quarters the fee for denouncing evasions of the Papian Law, which obliged noblemen to marry’
Ending administrative abuses Ending administrative abuses in Egyptin Egypt
Edict of 68: Ti. Julius Alexander [LR ii.295–98]
reaction to requirements under Nero
Building projectsBuilding projects
new style of architecture introduced: Suet. Ner. 16
considered extending the city wall to Ostia: Suet. Ner. 16
considered building a canal to Rome: Suet. Ner. 16
Trouble in ArmeniaTrouble in Armenia
Tacitus, Ann. 13 Parthians plundering people wondered if Nero would react Nero mobilised troops Client kings (Agrippa II & Antiochus
Epiphanes IV of Commagene) urged to raise armies
Parthians evacuated Armenia
Securing ArmeniaSecuring Armenia
Cn. Domitius Corbulo secured Armenia– appointment on merit
Hostages handed over