Source edition
Suetonius. De Vita Caesarum Libri VIII. Ihm, Max, editor; Leipzig: Teubner, 1908.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This biographical work depicts the life, extreme character, and turbulent reign of Nero, the fifth emperor of the Roman Empire. The narrative begins by tracing Nero's ancestry through the Domitius clan and recounting his troubled youth, leading up to his ascension to the throne at the age of seventeen. Although he initially demonstrated a generous and favorable governance, his passions soon turned toward an obsessive devotion to music, theater, and chariot racing, eventually driving him to perform publicly on stage. Over time, his rule degenerated into extreme debauchery, lavish extravagance, and ruthless cruelty, marked by the systematic elimination of his own mother Agrippina, his relatives, and his tutor Seneca. The devastating Great Fire of Rome and his tyrannical purges eventually triggered widespread rebellions across the provinces. Left with no supporters, Nero fled the capital and committed suicide, bringing a dramatic end to his life, which is followed by an account of his physical traits and the mixed reactions of the public after his death.