Bad Emperors: Claudius and Nero

Claudius is famous as the survivor of the Julio-Claudian family – an unlikely emperor according to both ancient historians and Robert Graves alike. His apparent devotion to his wives led Tacitus and Suetonius to ridicule him, and may he may have been murdered by his fourth wife, Agrippina, the mother of Nero. Nero, in turn, is Rome's most infamous emperor: accused of incest, matricide, sexual deviance and arson. This lecture investigates the reasons why both emperors are represented in such outrageous terms. It also considers the perils faced by those in the imperial court, as well as Nero's interest in Greek culture, and the path which led to his violent death. Copyright 2013 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.