Nero and why he was a good emperor

Topic: Nero and Why He Was a Good Emperor
Student Name
History
Tutor
18 April, 2014
December 15, A.D. 37 marked the day Nero was born in Antium. He was of the Julian-Claudian line and the son of Domitius Ahenobarbus and Julia Agrippina, the niece of Emperor Claudius. The first wife of Emperor Claudius (Valeria Messalina) died violently and he married Julia, adopted her son (Nero) and even gave him in marriage to his own daughter (Octavia). During his childhood, he considered himself a great singer and poet. Nero's mother had throughout wanted him to become emperor and was ready to commit any crime just to see him on the throne. To prepare him for the throne, she appointed Annaeus Seneca as his tutor and influenced Afranius Burrus' appointment as commander of the Praetorian Guard. Nero became emperor at seventeen after the sudden death of Claudius and the two men became his advisors. Although Agrippina expected to be part of Nero's government, her autocratic character led to her dismissal from government within a short time. This action indicated that Nero wanted a leadership that allowed participation of others and input in decision making (a democratic approach to leadership).[Bernard W. Henderson 1903, The Life And Principate Of The Emperor Nero (London: Methuen & Co., 1903), 5] [Henderson, 5]
In addition, Nero's leadership was viewed as auspicious under the direction of his two advisors Burrus and Seneca who were the real holders of power. Nero abrogated or lessened the hardships of direct taxation, the arbitrary nature of the legislation and provincial administration that delighted Rome and its entire empire declaring the first five years of Nero's rule the happiest and the Trajan regarded it at the best imperial era.[Henderson 1903, 5]
According to the Romans, a practical activity is an activity that would benefit the state. This meant that regardless of the prominence of the “Scipionic Circle” and the education of young senators for Rome in Greece, the engagement of Romans with Greek art and culture was viewed as an activity for foreigners, freedmen, and slaves. For Romans, this engagement was left for stuff relaxation and confined only to leisure hours. However, Ferrary (1988), Nero loved these activities and did not discriminate against any of the Greek and Greek activities. In addition, he did not discriminate against the low social class Romans as he loved these games and attended them with the other low class groups. He is termed as “Greece-loving” a title to Hellenistic kings does not occur in official communication, in Greek cities from Roman magistrates, or any decrees of honor dedicated to any emperor. It was uniquely attributed only to Nero.[Sigrid Mratschek 2013, “Nero the Imperial Misfit: Philhellenism in a Rich” in A Companion to the Neronian Age (New York: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2013), 46] [J. L. Fe...