Tiberius Claudius Nero | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 82 BC |
| Died | 33 BC |
| Nationality | Roman |
| Office | Praetor (42 BC) |
| Spouse | Livia Drusilla |
| Children | Tiberius (emperor) andNero Claudius Drusus |
| Father | |
Tiberius Claudius Nero (c. 82 – 33 BC) was a Roman politician, senator, and praetor who lived in the1st century BC.
He was notable for being the first husband ofLivia Drusilla, before she divorced him to marry the future emperorAugustus, and the biological father of the second Roman emperorTiberius.
Nero was a member of therepublicanClaudia gens ofRome.[1] He was a descendant of thecensorAppius Claudius Caecus. Nero was the son ofTiberius Claudius Nero[2] and his mother was a descendant of the Claudian gens. Nero had a sister namedClaudia, who married theprefectQuintus Volusius.[3]
Nero had served as aquaestor toJulius Caesar in 48 BC, commanding his fleet in theAlexandrian War. As a reward for his contribution, Nero was made pontiff, replacing Publius Scipio. Julius Caesar also sent Nero toGaul to create and monitor Roman colonies (Suetonius notes Narbo and Arelate).[4]
Despite his service with Julius Caesar, Nero was anOptimate at heart. After the murder of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE, Nero suggested that Caesar's assassins be rewarded for their services to the state, which went against the part of the Senate that wanted to persecute Caesar's assassins. Despite this suggestion, Nero was electedpraetor in 43 BCE for 42 BCE.[4]
Around the time Nero was elected praetor, he married his relativeLivia Drusilla,[a] whose fatherMarcus Livius Drusus Claudianus was from the samegens.His son of the same name was born November 16, 42 BCE, inFondi, Italy.[7]Elaine Fantham believes it is likely that Nero had been married before he wed Livia, as he was looking for a wife in 50 BC when he approached Cicero to marry his daughter Tullia.[8]
Towards the end of Nero's praetorship, theSecond Triumvirate began to break down, causing a dangerous situation in Rome as the triumvirs went to battle with each other. Because of this turmoil, Nero's praetorship was extended, and he was forced to choose sides. Due to his distrust ofOctavian, he cast his lot withMark Antony.[7] In 41 BCE, he fled Campania, where he was in charge of the garrison, with Livia and Tiberius in tow, joining Antony's brotherLucius Antonius inPerusia.[9] Perusia was besieged by Octavian's men by the time Nero arrived, and when the town fell in 40 BC, he was forced to flee first toPraeneste, and thenNaples. In 40 BCE, Octavian and Mark Antony reconciled.[7]
In Naples, Nero tried in vain to raise a slave battalion against Octavian and then asked for refuge withSextus Pompey, who was then acting as a pirate leader inSicily, but was denied. Nero, with his family, joined Mark Antony soon after inAchaea.[7]
After three years of fleeing from Octavian, Nero returned to Rome with Livia and three-year-old Tiberius. Octavian immediately after catching sight of Livia, fell in love with her, despite the fact that she was still married. Octavian was married toScribonia, with whom he had a daughter namedJulia, now known as Julia the Elder. Octavian and Scribonia divorced. At the time of Augustus's divorce, Livia was 6 months pregnant with Nero's second son. Nero was persuaded or forced by Octavian to divorce Livia. Octavian and Livia married on January 17, 38 BCE waiving the traditional waiting period. Nero was present at their wedding, giving Livia away "just as a father would". Nero and Livia's second son was born in early 38 BCE and he was namedDecimus Claudius Drusus, which was later changed toNero Claudius Drusus. After his birth, Augustus sent Drusus to Nero to raise him.[10] Using a cognomen such asNero as a first name was unusual, as was the prominence given to his maternal lineage in adoptingDrusus as his cognomen.[11]
Nero died in 33 BCE, leaving Augustus as his sons' guardian. Tiberius, aged 9, delivered his father's funeral eulogy on theRostra in Rome. When the futureRoman emperorTiberius celebrated his coming of age, he staged twogladiatorial contests; one was held at theForum in memory of his father and the other at the amphitheatre in memory of his grandfather Drusus.[2]
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