Conspiracies and Revolts
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Nero's demise was the start of a year of scrambling for the Roman government after the Senate desired that they no longer wanted Nero serving as their emperor. This corruption from the senate also carried over into the reign of the three kings (Galba, Otho and Vitellius) and were most likely the reason how they were not able maintain a cooperative government. The first nail in coffin for Nero was the event known as the Pisonian conspiracy. According Tacitus a Roman senator and historian states that the conspirators' intentions were to "rescue the state", although it's rather vague there is no reason to discredit Tacitus as he is one of few historian who lived during the year in which it took place making him rather credible however, Tacitus was known to be rather bias towards Nero and the Julio Claudian family in general so a lot of what he says should be taken with a grain of salt.
The conspiracy was concocted by Roman senator Gaius Calpurnius Piso in 65 AD. The conspiracy was built on a sizeable group of senators who plotted the assassination of Nero at the Circension Games. However, the plan fell through after a servant of Flavius Scaevinus (who was chosen to make the strike againsts Nero) grew suspicious of his master intentions and the plan backfired. At least 41 people were suspected as being part of the conspiracy and were either forced to commit suicide or exiled including Piso and Flavius.
The aftermath of the Pisonian conspiracy left Nero paranoid and he would go on to use his power to execute conspirators. Nero's zealous actions were disliked by many senators and noble people of Rome as supported by historian Mary J. Boatwright who states "The abortive Pisonian conspiracy of 65 united many at different levels of society in common hatred"(Boatwright M. A brief history of the Roman emperors). The statement emphasises the fact that people weren't happy with Nero and the government in general.
The straw that broke the camel's back for Nero came in the form of the Vindex Revolt. Vindex a governor of Gaul, described by Cassius Dio as a Noble who had "a love of freedom and vast ambition"(Dio, Roman History, 63 AD) conducted a revolt alongside Servius Sulpicius Galba. By convincing the praetorian guard to shift sides, Vindex was able to overpower Nero and his forces and therefore causing him to leave Rome where he committed suicide. Vindex was also killed and the Senate declared Galba the new emperor, this made the people happy but not for very long.
The conspiracy was concocted by Roman senator Gaius Calpurnius Piso in 65 AD. The conspiracy was built on a sizeable group of senators who plotted the assassination of Nero at the Circension Games. However, the plan fell through after a servant of Flavius Scaevinus (who was chosen to make the strike againsts Nero) grew suspicious of his master intentions and the plan backfired. At least 41 people were suspected as being part of the conspiracy and were either forced to commit suicide or exiled including Piso and Flavius.
The aftermath of the Pisonian conspiracy left Nero paranoid and he would go on to use his power to execute conspirators. Nero's zealous actions were disliked by many senators and noble people of Rome as supported by historian Mary J. Boatwright who states "The abortive Pisonian conspiracy of 65 united many at different levels of society in common hatred"(Boatwright M. A brief history of the Roman emperors). The statement emphasises the fact that people weren't happy with Nero and the government in general.
The straw that broke the camel's back for Nero came in the form of the Vindex Revolt. Vindex a governor of Gaul, described by Cassius Dio as a Noble who had "a love of freedom and vast ambition"(Dio, Roman History, 63 AD) conducted a revolt alongside Servius Sulpicius Galba. By convincing the praetorian guard to shift sides, Vindex was able to overpower Nero and his forces and therefore causing him to leave Rome where he committed suicide. Vindex was also killed and the Senate declared Galba the new emperor, this made the people happy but not for very long.