In this essay I will attempt to put the fire of Rome in its historical context and, briefly, recount the ensuing persecution of the Christians under Nero, and subsequent Roman emperors. I will also discuss the response of the early Church to the persecutions.
Nero.
Before dealing with the fire of Rome it is important to look at the emperor Nero, as much of this saga revolves around him.
Nero came to power in the year to 30AD at the age of 16, due largely to the ministrations of his mother Agrippina. Due to Nero's youth his tutor, the stoic philosopher and orator Seneca, wielded a lot of power behind the throne as his adviser. Like Caligula before him Nero wanted public adoration and so played the part of the benevolent ruler.
In his first five years of rule Nero gave slaves the right to file complaints against their masters". He pardoned people who had written unflattering descriptions of him. And he won the hearts of many of his subjects by lowering taxes. It is also to be noted that he had a dislike of signing death sentences and, instead, often granted the criminals involved clemency.
Around this time Nero came into conflict with his mother, Agrippina, who resented his attachment to a former slave of Greek origin. This resulted in Nero seeing less of his mother and led to him taking away the honour guard that had accompanied her wherever she went. Agrippina then began talking of replacing Nero with his half-brother Britannicus. Britannicus died when Nero was just 17 and there were rumours that Nero had had him poisoned; these rumours caused Nero some degree of distress.
Nero's advisers", the Senate and the public disliked Agrippina and Nero was convinced by those around him to have her eliminated. In the year 59 AD she was murdered; her death was presented as a suicide and most of the Senate thanked Nero for having gotten rid of such a dangerous woman. Nero was only 21 when his mother met her death and he apparently remained disturbed by his participation in her murder.
