Conspiracy of Rammer

For several years, the Roman Emperor Néron has been implied in a series of scandals. In 65, it took part in a spectacle singing and playing the comedy and of the quadrant. This extrèmement would have been badly taken by the people which regarded as absolutely degrading for an Roman Emperor to seem a public entertainer. Hated by many citizens, with a list of political enemies which lengthened, Néron started to appreciate its loneliness.

The Consul Gaius Calpurnius Piso set up a conspiracy which aimed at making kill Néron and to take its place. With this intention he asked for the assistance of several senators as well as eminent knights of which Faenius Rufus, former prefect of the annone and colleague of the Préfet of the court Tigellin since 62. He was to lead Pison in front of Praetorian guards to charge them with killing the emperor. The lack of conviction of the conspirators involves the revelation of the plan quickly. Néron condemns Pison to commit suicide.

Lucain and Sénèque the Young person were also implied. Pétrone is wrongfully marked by Tigellin, to have taken part there. Although Sénèque is involved there in spite of him, it is condemned to die. The culpability of Lucain is dubious. Sénèque gives itself death by opening the veins. Pétrone and Lucain will commit suicide shortly after.

Moreover, Néron ordered that Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, a popular and valorous general, committed suicide, to make following vague suspicions of treason. This decision pushed the military commanders, in Rome and in the provinces, to consider the organization of revolts. Néron led then to a paranoiac hunting of any possible threat which insulating it more and indirectly pushed it with the suicide in 68 what makes this conspiracy, the most important conspiracy of the reign of Néron.

Source

Tacit, Yearly Book XV, chapter LX and following.

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