![[Nero]](ncd05728.jpg "22kb jpg photograph of a bust of Nero, date unknown, artist unknown, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy; swiped off the Wikipedia web site; please do not write to ask about the image")
Roman emperor (54-68), born Antium, 15 December 37; died Rome, 9 June 68.
He was the son of Domitius and Agrippina.
His beneficial rule under the direction of Burrus and Seneca ended in five years, when he gave way to his sensuality and moral perversity.
He poisoned Brittanicus, assassinated his mother, divorced and executed his wife, Octavia, in order to marry Poppaea, burned Rome, caused a fierce persecution of Christians and the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and put to death Seneca, Petronius, and Pretus.
Confronted with revolt in the provinces, outlawed and forsaken, he committed suicide.
New Catholic Dictionary
