A Study On The Quinquennium Neronis (A.D. 54-58)

The Emperor of Roman Empire, Nero (A.D. 37-68, reign in A.D. 54-68), was the fifth and last ruler of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was regarded as dreadful, murderous and unpardonable, and the reign of Nero as the emperor of Rome has been seen as the very embodiment of the extravagance, debauchery and corruption through the years. He killed his wife and mother, and some other inconnected; it is said that the great Rome Fire in A.D. 64 which caused huge losses was manipulated by him, afterwards he put off the responsibility to the Christians, and persecuted them; he did not care about the national affairs and got bad with the senate and so on. However, it is undeniable that in the first five years after Nero came to the power, the policy was modest, the political situation was stability, and the economy progressed significantly, the national strength became stronger day by day. The later emperor Trajan had highly praise on this period, called Quinquennium Neronis.At the beginning of the 20th century, the western classical scholars launched a wide-ranging discussion on the origin and the time coverage of the Quinquennium Neronis, which deepened the reseach on the rule of Nero. In recent years domestic scholars began to pay a few attention to it in their works in this field, which shows that in researching on Nero's rule the problem is an unavoidable topic. Based on the research results at home and abroad, on the basis of the western classical scholars on Quinquennium Neronis. My essay inspects the basic policies and the specific situation in A.D. 54-58, and compares it with the collapse in the later years, and then explores the main reasons of the country harmony and national progress, provides useful lessons for evaluating Nero and his rule.This paper is divided into six parts: Preface, introduces the situation on Nero and his rule home and abroad and the relevant historical materials used.Chapter I is a brief overview on Nero's life.Chapter II focuses on the Quinquennium Neronis, and the main viewpoints of the western classical scholars, and the author endorsed the Quinquennium Neronis means the beginning of his taking office (that is, in the year 54-58 ), which clearly defines the subject of time.Chapter III expounds the specific policies and its influences mainly from the political, economic and military aspects in this period.Chapter IV focuses on the main reason of the early development of prosperous. This article especially pays attention on the power changing in Agrippina, Nero, Seneca and Burrus.Conclusion: in the beginning of Nero's reign, Agrippina, Seneca and Burrus have controlled the country, especially the latter. Nero was in the subordinate status at a time. In the co-operation of Seneca, Bruce and Nero the country has seen a brief period of prosperity. Nero's rule is not without achievements.