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Tiberius Claudius Nero (father of Tiberius Caesar)

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For other Romans with the same name, see Tiberius Claudius Nero.
Tiberius Claudius Nero
Bornc. 82 BCE
Died33 BCE
NationalityRoman
OfficePraetor (42 BCE)
SpouseLivia Drusilla
ChildrenTiberius (emperor) and Nero Claudius Drusus
Father

Tiberius Claudius Nero (c. 82 – 33 BCE) was a Roman politician, senator, and praetor who lived in the 1st century BC.

He was notable for being the first husband of Livia Drusilla, before she divorced him to marry the future emperor Augustus, and the biological father of the second Roman emperor Tiberius.

Ancestry

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Fantasy portrait in the Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum

Nero was a member of the republican Claudia gens of Rome.[1] He was a descendant of the censor Appius Claudius Caecus. Nero was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero[2] and his mother was a descendant of the Claudian gens. Nero had a sister called Claudia, who married the prefect Quintus Volusius.[3]

Life

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Nero had served as a quaestor to Julius Caesar in 48 BCE, commanding his fleet in the Alexandrian War. As a reward for his contribution, Nero was made pontiff, replacing Publius Scipio. Julius Caesar also sent Nero to Gaul to create and monitor Roman colonies (Suetonius notes Narbo and Arelate).[4]

Despite his service with Julius Caesar, Nero was an Optimate 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 elected praetor in 43 BCE for 42 BCE.[4]

Around the time Nero was elected praetor, he married his relative Livia Drusilla,[a] whose father Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus was from the same gens. His son of the same name was born November 16, 42 BCE, in Fondi, Italy.[7] Elaine Fantham believes it is likely that Nero had been married before he wed Livia, as he was already looking for a wife in 50 BC when he approached Cicero to marry his daughter Tullia.[8]

Second Triumvirate

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Towards the end of Nero's praetorship, the Second 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 of Octavian, he cast his lot with Mark 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 brother Lucius Antonius in Perusia.[9] Perusia was besieged by Octavian's men by the time Nero arrived, and when the town fell in 40 BCE, he was forced to flee first to Praeneste, and then Naples. In 40 BCE, Octavian and Mark Antony reconciled.[7]

In Naples, Nero tried in vain to raise a slave battalion against Octavian and then took refuge with Sextus Pompey, who was then acting as a pirate leader in Sicily. Nero, with his family, joined Mark Antony soon after in Achaea.[7]

After three years of fleeing from Octavian, Nero returned to Rome with Livia and the 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 to Scribonia, with whom he had a daughter called Julia, 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 named Decimus Claudius Drusus, which was later changed to Nero Claudius Drusus. After his birth, Augustus sent Drusus to Nero to raise him.[10] Using a cognomen such as Nero as a first name was unusual, as was the prominence given to his maternal lineage in adopting Drusus as his cognomen.[11]

Death

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Nero died in 33 BCE, leaving Augustus as his sons' guardian. Tiberius, aged 9, delivered his father's funeral eulogy on the Rostra in Rome. When the future Roman emperor Tiberius celebrated his coming of age, he staged two gladiatorial contests; one was held at the Forum in memory of his father and the other at the amphitheatre in memory of his grandfather Drusus.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ Exactly how closely related Nero and Livia were is up for debate, some researchers have asserted with confidence that they were first cousins.[5] This assumption generally includes believing that Suetonius was mistaken when referring to Livia's father as a Claudius Pulcher.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Suetonius. "Tiberius". The Twelve Caesars. Vol. III. 1–3.
  2. ^ a b Suetonius. "Tiberius". The Twelve Caesars. Vol. III. 7.
  3. ^ M. Tullius Cicero. "21". Ad Atticum. Vol. V.
  4. ^ a b Suetonius. "Tiberius". The Twelve Caesars. Vol. III. 4.
  5. ^ Barrett, Anthony A. (2002). Livia: First Lady of Imperial Rome (illustrated ed.). Yale University Press. p. 10. ISBN 9780300127164.
  6. ^ Barrett, Anthony A. (2002). Livia: First Lady of Imperial Rome (illustrated ed.). Yale University Press. p. 349. ISBN 9780300127164.
  7. ^ a b c d C. Suetonius Tranquillus. "Tiberius". The Twelve Caesars. Vol. III. 4–6.
  8. ^ Fantham, Elaine (2006). Julia Augusti. Women of the Ancient World. Routledge. p. 149. ISBN 9781134323449.
  9. ^ Dio, Roman History 48.15.3
  10. ^ Dio, Roman History 48.44.1-5
  11. ^ Suetonius. "Claudius". The Twelve Caesars. 1.
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