The Pisonian Conspiracy: Activity

All Tacitus bar No.5

1. What common motives do the conspirators have for plotting against Nero?
• Nero's criminal record
• His abolition of the Senate's rights (41 Senators were involved in this plot)
• The way in which he lowered the tone of the imperial position
• He stripped the power to mint coins from the Senate
  
2. What concerned the conspirators were they to successfully remove Nero?
• They didn't know what they would do next. They didn't know if they would attempt to return to the Republic or choose another emperor from their own
• Additionally, they weren't sure if others in Rome would accept such an assertion (the plebs might not want the Republic back, as they didn't once before)
• Another issue was that Piso's party was not the only faction and there was the worry that another Senator, Lucius Silanus, might assume "a command which would be readily offered to him by people whom the conspiracy had not touched"
  
3. Why would Piso's marriage to Antonia be an important step in overthrowing Nero? What does this tell us about the importance of Imperial women?
• As she was Claudius' daughter, marrying her would help to secure Piso's claim to the throne
• However, Tacitus acknowledges that the details surrounding Antonia's involvement are somewhat suspect, citing Pliny the Elder as his source
• This tells us that Imperial women were quite important, as they could offer blood legitimacy that could not be acquired in any other way
  
4. How did Nero capitalise on the failure of the conspiracy for his own gain?
• A freedman of Scaevinus, Milichus, betrayed the plot
• Scaevinus gave everyone else up, including Seneca (even though there was no evidence) - he was potentially included because Nero wanted rid of him
• Nero used the conspiracy to execute dozens of Senators and Equestrians. This was a highly visibile means of reasserting his authority and the confiscated property provided much needed funds
• "After the massacre of so many distinguished men, Nero finally coveted the destruction of Virtue herself by killing Thrasea Patea and Marcius Barea Soranus. He had long hated them both" - They had not been involved in the plot, but were outspoken against Nero. Thrasea Patea most famously for walking out of the Senate during Nero's speech outlining the murder of his mother
  
5. What does Suetonius say was Nero's underlying purpose in retaliating against the Senate?
• "Often he hinted broadly that it was not his intention to spare the remaining Senators, but would one day wipe out the entire Senatorial order"
• Tigellinus had the power to destroy leading Romans without even the pretence of a trial
• Some years of his tyrannical rule almost annihilated the Senatorial class