Nero
Early life
After Caligula's death, Claudius became the new emperor. Nero's mother married Claudius in AD 49, becoming his fourth wife. On 25 February AD 50, Claudius was pressured to adopt Nero as his son, giving him the new name of "Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus". Claudius had gold coins issued to mark the adoption. Classics professor Josiah Osgood has written that "the coins, through their distribution and imagery alike, showed that a new Leader was in the making." However, David Shotter noted that, despite events in Rome, Nero's step-brother Britannicus was more prominent in provincial coinages during the early 50s.
Early life
!Relief from the [Sebasteion depicting Nero and his mother, Agrippina](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/RelieffromtheSebasteiondepictingNeroandAgrippina%2CAphrodisiasMuseum%2CTurkey%2820481225182%29.jpg/250px-RelieffromtheSebasteiondepictingNeroandAgrippina%2CAphrodisiasMuseum%2CTurkey%2820481225182%29.jpg)
Early life
Nero formally entered public life as an adult in AD 51 while 13 years old. When he turned 16, Nero married Claudius' daughter (his step-sister), Claudia Octavia. Between the years AD 51 and AD 53, he gave several speeches on behalf of various communities, including the Ilians; the Apameans) (requesting a five-year tax reprieve after an earthquake); and the northern colony of Bologna, after their settlement had suffered a devastating fire.
Reading List
Report Issue