Most people know Nero as the Mad Emperor of Rome—but he was so much more unhinged than most people even realize. From his numerous chaotic weddings (in one of which he was the bride) to his ruthless betrayals to his pathetic and humiliating end, Nero may just have been one of the most ridiculous and disturbing people to ever wield power in history.
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1. He Came From A Twisted Family Tree
There was power in Nero's bloodline. His great-grandfather was Augustus, the first emperor of Rome and one of the most legendary figures in history. Unfortunately, madness lurked in his genes as well—just look at his crazed uncle Caligula. But his most important relative, the one who would shape his life more than any other, was his infamous mother, Caligula's sister Agrippina the Younger.
If you're wondering where Nero got his cruelty and his ruthlessness, look no further than dear old Mom.
2. His Mother Had Claws
Women held little power in Ancient Rome, but no one told Agrippina that. She fiercely protected her son dela Nero and schemed tirelessly behind the scenes for any political advantage she could glean. Their relationship would eventually return into a twisted, Oedipal mess, but whether he liked it or not, Nero owed pretty much everything he ever got to his mother.
If he'd only taken after her, maybe he'd have become an incredibly powerful emperor—unfortunately, he inherited some even darker tendencies from the men in his family.
3. His Father Was A Brute
According to contemporary sources, Nero's brutality and bloodlust came from his Y chromosome. His grandfather's obsession with incredibly violent gladiatorial games was well documented, and his father was said to be "irascible and brutal." Allegedly, his father even once stated that "any child born to him and Agrippina would have a detestable nature and become a public danger."