EPISODE · Jun 14, 2026 · 6 MIN
Nero's Divorce and the Death of Octavia
from Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 62 AD, Nero divorced and later executed his wife Octavia, daughter of Claudius, to marry his mistress Poppaea Sabina. This episode unpacks the political and personal dynamics behind the fall of Octavia, the role of the Praetorian prefect Tigellinus, the staged adultery charge, and the public riots that erupted in her support. We explore Tacitus and Suetonius's accounts, the contrasting fates of imperial women, and what Octavia's death reveals about Nero's consolidation of power after the death of Burrus. No other episode has focused solely on Octavia's story. #Octavia #Nero #PoppaeaSabina #Tigellinus #Burrus #PraetorianGuard #ImperialDivorce #AncientRome #Tacitus #Suetonius #CassiusDio #AdulteryCharge #RomanEmpire #JulioClaudian #WomenInAntiquity #History #FexingoHistory #RomanPolitics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 62 AD, Nero divorced and later executed his wife Octavia, daughter of Claudius, to marry his mistress Poppaea Sabina. This episode unpacks the political and personal dynamics behind the fall of Octavia, the role of the Praetorian prefect Tigellinus, the staged adultery charge, and the public riots that erupted in her support. We explore Tacitus and Suetonius's accounts, the contrasting fates of imperial women, and what Octavia's death reveals about Nero's consolidation of power after the death of Burrus. No other episode has focused solely on Octavia's story. #Octavia #Nero #PoppaeaSabina #Tigellinus #Burrus #PraetorianGuard #ImperialDivorce #AncientRome #Tacitus #Suetonius #CassiusDio #AdulteryCharge #RomanEmpire #JulioClaudian #WomenInAntiquity #History #FexingoHistory #RomanPolitics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Nero's Divorce and the Death of Octavia
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