Latest / Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History / Nero's Assassins: The Praetorian Guard and an Emperor's Fall
Transcript
- Luna: So we've talked about Nero's final hours before, but I want to dig deeper into something. How did the Praetorian Guard, his own bodyguards, end up abandoning him? Lucas: That's the crux of it. The Praetorian Guard had been a double-edged sword since Augustus created them in 27 BC. They were the only armed force in Rome itself, and their loyalty was supposed to be to the emperor personally. But by Nero's time, they'd become a political force in their own right. Nero inherited them from Claudius, and he initially kept the same prefects — Burrus and Seneca's ally, Afranius Burrus, who was actually a respected figure. Lucas: But after Burrus died in 62 AD, Nero appointed Ofonius Tigellinus as sole prefect, and that's when things started to sour. Tigellinus was a different breed — he was ruthless, corrupt, and he encouraged Nero's worst instincts. He also packed the guard with loyalists, but loyalty to him, not to the state. By 68 AD, the Guard had become a Praetorian mafia, more interested in bribes and privileges than protecting the emperor. Luna: So when Vindex revolted in Gaul, the Guard didn't automatically side with Nero? Lucas: Exactly. And that's where Nymphidius Sabinus comes in. He was the other prefect, co-prefect with Tigellinus, but he was ambitious and saw an opportunity. When the revolt spread and Galba was declared emperor in Spain, Nymphidius made a calculated move. He told the Praetorians that Galba would pay them a huge donative — a cash bonus — if they abandoned Nero. The Guard bought it. They proclaimed Galba emperor, and Nero was left with no armed support. Luna: Wait, Nymphidius promised them money that Galba hadn't even agreed to? Lucas: Exactly. He acted on his own authority. The Guard mutinied, Nero fled to a villa outside Rome, and he died by the sword of a freedman — or his own hand, depending on which source you believe. But the Praetorian betrayal was the decisive moment. Once they switched sides, Nero had no chance. Lucas: And here's the irony: Galba never paid the promised donative. He said, 'I levy soldiers, I don't buy them.' That infuriated the Praetorians, and within months they murdered Galba and put Otho on the throne. So the Guard learned that they could make and break emperors at will. That pattern continued for decades. Luna: So Nero's fall really opened the door for the Praetorians to become kingmakers. Lucas: Yes. And it wasn't just Nero — the Year of the Four Emperors showed the Guard's power. They backed Otho, then switched to Vitellius, then Vespasian. Each time, they expected a reward. The praetorian prefect became one of the most powerful men in Rome, often more powerful than the emperor himself. Look at Sejanus under Tiberius, or later Aemilius Laetus under Commodus — both used the Guard to control the throne. Luna: And the Castra Praetoria, the camp they had on the outskirts of Rome — that was a fortress, wasn't it? Lucas: It was built by Sejanus under Tiberius, a fortified camp just outside the city walls. It housed the entire Guard, about 9,000 men in nine cohorts. Having them encamped so close to the city meant they could respond quickly to unrest — but also that they could march into the city and impose their will. Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea, was actually near the camp, which made him vulnerable. Lucas: The Guard's loyalty was always a matter of money and patronage. Nero had been generous with them early on — he gave them a donative of 2,000 sesterces per man when he became emperor, and another after the Pisonian conspiracy. But by 68 AD, Tigellinus had alienated many soldiers with his favoritism, and Nymphidius exploited that. Luna: So Nymphidius Sabinus — what was his background? Was he a soldier or a politician? Lucas: He was supposedly the illegitimate son of a gladiator and a freedwoman, but he rose through the ranks. He served under Corbulo in the east, and Nero appointed him prefect in 65 AD after the Pisonian conspiracy. He was ambitious and cunning. After Nero's death, he actually tried to claim the throne for himself — he spread a rumor that he was the son of Caligula, but the Guard didn't buy it. They killed him when Galba sent orders. Luna: So he got a taste of his own medicine. Lucas: Exactly. And Tigellinus — he survived Nero's fall by switching sides early. He even attended Galba's inauguration. But eventually, he was forced to commit suicide under Otho. So both the prefects who betrayed Nero met bad ends. Lucas: What's striking is that the Praetorian Guard was supposed to be the emperor's personal shield. But they became a mercenary force loyal to the highest bidder. And Nero's downfall was the first major example of that dynamic. After him, no emperor could take their loyalty for granted. Luna: It's like the Guard realized they held the real power. Lucas: Exactly. And that's a dangerous realization for any institution. The Praetorians would go on to assassinate Caligula, they tried to kill Nero, they killed Galba, they killed Pertinax, they auctioned the empire to Didius Julianus — the list goes on. They were a constant threat to stability until Constantine disbanded them in 312 AD. Luna: So in a way, Nero's reign was a turning point for the Guard's political power. Lucas: Absolutely. And speaking of turning points, this is the kind of episode where listener support really makes a difference. If you've been enjoying these deep dives, a couple of dollars a month on buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo genuinely keeps these conversations going. It's a small thing that adds up. Luna: Yeah, it really does help us keep the show ad-free and focused on the history. Lucas: So back to the Guard — after Nero, the pattern was set. The Praetorians became a persistent force in imperial politics, and their barracks in the Castra Praetoria were a symbol of their power. For the next two centuries, every emperor had to manage them carefully, or face the consequences. Luna: And Nero was the first to be destroyed by them. Lucas: Yes, in a way. His death marked the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and the Praetorians were the instrument of that end. But it wasn't just about Nero — it was about the system itself. The Guard's betrayal showed that the principate was only as strong as the loyalty of the army in Rome.