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Few historical figures have been more harshly criticized than the Roman Emperor Nero. His name is now almost synonymous with malice, indulgence, and moral decay. He’s been accused of burning down Rome, killing his mother, constructing a towering 37-meter (120 ft) statue of himself, and persecuting Christians—each of which has cemented his place as one of history's most infamous tyrants.
Some tales surrounding Nero are more legend than fact, with many being outright false. For instance, he never played a violin while Rome was on fire, as the instrument hadn’t even been invented at that time. Nonetheless, both ancient accounts and modern archaeological evidence paint a picture of a deeply troubled and complex ruler.
10. Family Ties
In an effort to preserve their 'pure' bloodline, the Julio-Claudian dynasty instead cultivated a complex, entangled gene pool and a convoluted web of Roman aristocracy. Nero’s mother, Agrippina, who was also Caligula's sister, wed her third husband, Emperor Claudius (her uncle), after he murdered his third wife, the niece of Nero's father. Got it? It only gets more twisted from here.
In 53 AD, the 16-year-old Nero married his stepsister, Claudia Octavia, and after his power-hungry mother Agrippina poisoned Claudius, Nero, her teenage son (and rumored lover), ascended to the throne. Continuing the family's dark legacy, Nero followed in his mother’s footsteps and ordered her execution.
He locked his wife away in prison before having her beheaded and presented her severed head as a gift to his second wife, Poppaea Sabina. The relationship quickly soured as well, and after violently kicking her to death while she was pregnant, Nero went on to marry another cousin.
Ah, romance. Isn’t love just wonderful?
9. Julio-Claudian Lives Matter
Nero had a deeply troubled relationship with his family. If he wasn’t romantically entangled with them, he spent his time plotting their untimely deaths. Family gatherings must’ve been... tense.
Britannicus, the biological son of Claudius and Nero’s stepbrother (and the younger brother of Nero’s wife), became an early casualty. As a legitimate heir to the fallen emperor, Britannicus had a rightful claim to the crown. But Nero had other plans—and made sure his stepbrother didn’t live to see his 14th birthday.
Other possible blood threats, whether real or imagined, met similar fates, including Rufrius Crispinus (the son of Nero’s second wife) and Nero’s cousins, Cornelius Sulla and Rubellius Plautus.
Did the paranoid ruler eliminate other relatives? Probably. Was being related to these people dangerous? Definitely.
8. Urine Tax
History shows that Augustus became Rome's first emperor, ushering in a time known as the Pax Romana (Latin for 'Peace of Rome'). He’s also credited with founding the principate, revamping Rome’s infrastructure, expanding the empire, creating a standing army, and setting up a permanent firefighting and police force.
Nero, on the other hand, was the first to impose a tax on urine. Yes, you read that right.
In ancient times, urine was a widely used cleaning agent, serving many purposes like washing clothes, tanning leather, bleaching fabrics, and even as a teeth-whitening agent. When exposed to nitrogen in the air, urine undergoes a chemical reaction where proteins break down to produce ammonia—a highly sought-after commodity in the first century AD.
Nero sought to profit from this abundant resource by imposing what became known as the vectigal urinae (‘urine tax’). When public latrines and private toilets were filled, the collector would levy a charge on these vessels of liquid gold. As a result, Nero helped popularize the saying, Pecunia non olet (‘Money does not stink’).
7. Rotating Dining Room
On September 29, 2009, archaeologists excavating the Palatine Hill area of Rome made a stunning discovery: the remnants of a grand banquet hall featuring a rotating chamber, built during Nero’s reign.
Located within his vast palace complex, the Domus Aurea (‘Golden Palace’), the circular structure is thought to have rotated continuously to simulate the movement of celestial bodies—with Nero at the center. Lead archaeologist Francoise Villedieu confirmed that the excavation showcased Nero’s lavish lifestyle. 'This cannot be compared to anything known in ancient Roman architecture,' Villedieu remarked.
The Roman historian Suetonius also described the extravagance, noting that sliding ivory panels showered guests below with flowers and perfumes. This engineering wonder stretched over 16 meters (50 feet) in diameter, supported by a 4-meter-wide (13-foot) pillar and four spherical mechanisms. Most likely, it was powered by a continuous flow of water to keep the room rotating.
Top that, Augustus!
6. His Killer Vacation Spot
Nero’s opulent residences became some of the most unforgettable symbols of his 14-year reign. Murder was another defining feature. He spared no expense—or conscience—while indulging in luxury at his coastal villas in Baiae.
Located 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of Rome, along the shores of the Gulf of Naples, Baiae offered a tempting escape from the busy city life. It was the perfect place to indulge in hedonistic pleasures.
The Roman elite flocked to this adult playground, constructing magnificent residences, including those of Nero’s mother and his aunt, Domitia. Baiae would also serve as their final resting places—allowing Nero to consolidate power and expand his real estate holdings.
Ultimately, the beauty of the area would be swallowed by the sea as volcanic and seismic activity caused much of Nero’s luxurious domain to sink beneath the waves.
5. Role-Playing
Fame often demands a heavy cost. While many royals relinquish their privacy to bask in the limelight, Nero chose an unusual path. He opted for costumes to maintain some mystery.
Nero considered himself a talented actor and musician (though he wasn't), pushing the boundaries of method acting. The Roman historian Tacitus, who witnessed Nero's reign, described his emperor's eccentric attire in this manner:
While peace prevailed abroad, Nero indulged in a corrupt decadence within his own home, disguising himself as a slave to avoid recognition. He roamed the streets of Rome with his companions, visiting brothels and taverns, seizing items for sale and assaulting anyone they crossed paths with.
Nero's crude behavior might have been seen as youthful recklessness, but it only intensified without consequences. However, on one occasion, he got a taste of his own medicine. A Roman senator, mistaking him for a commoner, gave Nero a harsh beating before realizing his true identity. From then on, Nero surrounded himself with large bodyguards during his excursions.
4. He Even Dressed as a Bride
It’s often said, 'Variety is the spice of life.' Nero certainly took this to heart, choosing to shake things up in ways that were anything but conventional.
In AD 64, during the Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to the god Saturn), Nero married Pythagoras, a former male slave. In a surprising twist, Nero took on the role of the bride. The marriage ceremony, complete with traditional rituals like the bridal veil, wedding dowry, and candles, was officiated by Tigellinus, Nero's trusted prefect in the Praetorian Guard.
As part of the celebration, a marriage bed was set up for the guests to witness the couple's consummation of the union.
3. Coming in Like a Lion . . . Leaving Like a Lamb
By early June in AD 68, Nero found himself under attack from multiple rebellions. When the Senate finally labeled him a public enemy, panic took hold of him.
Nero briefly entertained the idea of fleeing to a safer location. However, after losing the protection of the Praetorian Guard, he sought refuge at a villa on the outskirts of Rome. Suetonius recounts how the emperor ordered his remaining loyal followers, including his cherished eunuch, to dig his grave. As they worked, Nero reportedly wept, repeatedly saying, 'What an artist the world is losing!'
As the noose tightened, Nero steeled himself for suicide . . . but ultimately faltered. Desperate, he begged one of his servants to help him, and he finally succumbed to fatal dagger wounds. In an ironic twist, his death at the age of 30 marked a bloody end to almost a century of Julio-Claudian rule.
2. The King of Popularity
Despite his infamous reputation as a sadistic psychopath, Nero surprisingly enjoyed significant popularity among the people. His greatest support came from the eastern provinces, where he was seen as a kind and generous ruler and a patron of the arts.
In Rome, Nero also earned praise for his early reforms, such as reducing taxes, allowing slaves to lodge complaints against their masters, and abolishing capital punishment. Although it's commonly believed that he set fire to the city to clear space for his lavish Domus Aurea, he later rebuilt the residential areas with new brick buildings and colonnades to protect the residents from the Sun.
However, the imperial treasury drained, and high taxes eventually caused Nero’s popularity to plummet. As time passed, the growing spread of Christianity further tarnished his reputation, with many even accusing him of embodying the Antichrist.
1. He Wed a Eunuch
Nero married a young boy named Sporus, who was said to bear a striking resemblance to Nero's late wife, Poppaea Sabina. Following the norms of the time, Nero had Sporus castrated to preserve his youthful appearance. The emperor further solidified the transformation by dressing Sporus in the elaborate attire of a Roman empress and referring to him as 'Sabina.'
Unlike many of Nero’s allies, Sporus remained loyal to the emperor until the very end. After Nero's fall, Vitellius, one of his successors, sought to disgrace the royal eunuch by recreating the myth of The Rape of Proserpina at a gladiatorial event. However, Sporus avoided the cruel plan by taking his own life instead.
