The Early Life of a Tyrant

In December 15, in 37 AD a future tyrant was born. Nero was originally Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus then his name was changed to Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus was adopted by the Roman Emperor Claudius. Nero's birth father, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, died around 40 CE and so he was raised by his birth mother, Julia Agrippina. Agrippina, an ambitious woman, married her uncle Claudius after poisoning her second husband.

After marrying Claudius she persuaded him to favor to Nero for succession rather than his own son. She convinced him to let Nero marry his own daughter, Octatavia. Agrippina than went on a string of murders, to bring Nero in to power. She killed Claudius former wife who was before her, the place advisers who were against her, and most likely had Claudius himself poisoned in 54 AD and then thought to have killed Britannicus (Claudius son) in 55 AD. After the death of her husband, she proclaimed Nero as emperor, the Praetorian Guard. This forced the Senate to comply, and let a boy who wasn't 17 yet, hold the power of the Roman Empire in his hands.