June 9, 68 CE, Nero, perhaps the most infamous emperor of Rome, committed suicide after thirteen years of tyrannical rule.
Nero ruled for over 13 years and was the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty – the first imperial family to rule over the Roman Empire. He had a notorious reputation that was outmatched by few in history. He’s predominantly remembered for his debauchery, political murders, and harsh persecution of the Christians. In some ways, he was simply destined to be a tyrannical ruler. His predecessors, namely Tiberius and Caligula, were also distinctly cruel emperors â the apple certainly didn’t fall from the tree.
By 68 CE, uprisings were breaking out across the empire, especially in Gaul, Spain, and North Arica. And the emperor was wholly ineffective and disinterested in dealing with the problems. In response, a prominent Roman governor named Galba proclaimed himself legate of the Senate. The Praetorian Guard (the emperor’s elite personal bodyguards) quickly renounced their support for Nero and declared their allegiance to Galba. The Roman senators promptly followed suit.
Nero, now an enemy of the state, was hunted down like a common criminal. The emperor attempted to flee but did not get very far. With word of his enemies closing in, Nero decided to take his own life. His last words were said to have been “what an artist dies in me!” Nero’s death sparked a tumultuous period known as the ‘Year of the Four Emperors.’
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