Nero Impersonators

• The Nero Redivivus Legend, meaning ‘Nero would be reborn’, was a popular belief from Nero’s death in June 68 CE until the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE.
• The belief was that Nero had not died but had fled to Parthia. It was thought Nero would return to retake his rightful throne. At least three Nero Impersonators appeared during the 20 years after his death.

The reason Nero was popular in the East

• This was because in 63 CE, Nero had negotiated an extraordinary Peace Treaty with the Parthian Empire over Armenia.
• The Treaty guaranteed peace with Parthia for the next 50 years, up until the reign of Trajan.
• The Eastern Roman Empire was overjoyed and as a result, Nero remained popular in the east until long after his death.

The Three known Impersonators

1. In 69 CE during the reign of Vitellius.
   • Tacitus describes the first Impersonator as either a runaway slave from Achaea (Greece) or a Freedman from Italia. He commandeered a vessel with some Legionaries who had deserted and based himself on the island of Kythnos in the Cyclades.
   • Here he lived as a pirate and encouraged other soldiers to desert to him. Eventually, Galba instructed the future Governor of Galatia to eliminate him. His ship was captured and the Imposter’s head was displayed around Asia Minor before being sent to Rome.
2. In 79-81 CE, during the reign of Titus.
   • Terentius Maximus led a Rebellion in Asia Minor against Titus, based on his similar appearance to Nero and that he also played the Lyre. He was forced to flee East across the Euphrates with his Followers, to Artabanus III, the King of Parthia, who was convinced he was Nero.
   • Artabanus III prepared his armies to reinstate Nero as the true Roman Emperor instead of Titus. However, when he was exposed as an imposter, Artabanus III had him executed.
3. In 81-96 CE, during the reign of Domitian.
   • The Parthians again held a Nero Impersonator with the threat of war with Rome, but finally war was averted.

Nero Redivivus Legend

• Written about by Augustine of Hippo 354-430 CE, Bishop of Hippo Regius, Algeria, and one of the Four Great Church Fathers.
• From Nero’s death in June 68 CE until the end of the Western Roman Empire there was a popular belief that Nero had not died but had fled to the Parthian Empire and would return to retake his rightful throne.
• This is why the various Imposters were accepted.