II. Ancient and Classical Periods, 3500 B.C.E.–500 C.E. > E. Rome > 4. The Roman Empire, 14–284 C.E. > c. The Julio-Claudians > 61
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61
 
While Suetonius Paulinus, governor of Britain since 59, was engaged in the subjugation of the Druidical center, the queen of the Iceni, Boudicca, led a serious revolt. Paulinus succeeded in defeating and killing Boudicca.  1
 
64
 
A fire destroyed a great part of Rome. When unjustly suspected of having set the fire himself, Nero found convenient culprits in the new and despised sect of the Christians, who were put to death with refined tortures. Nero passed preventive regulations and built an enormous (over 200 acres) villa-garden in the center of Rome, the Domus Aurea.  2
 
65
 
A widespread conspiracy was organized to put C. Calpurnius Piso into the principate. It was discovered, and many senators, including Seneca, his nephew Lucan the poet, Faenius Rufus (successor to Burrus as praetorian prefect), and Petronius (the writer and friend of Nero), were executed or forced to commit suicide.  3
 
66–70
 
REVOLT IN JUDAEA. When the governor of Syria failed to suppress it, Vespasian was sent as special legate with three legions (67). He slowly reduced the country, took prisoner the pro-Roman Jewish historian Josephus, and laid siege to Jerusalem (69). The Jewish council (sanhedrin) and high priesthood were abolished, and direct Roman rule was installed.  4
 
67
 
Nero undertook an artistic tour in Greece, in the course of which he executed Corbulo and two ex-legates of Germany.  5
 
68
 
On Nero's return to Italy, he heard that C. Julius Vindex, legate of Gallia Lugdunensis, had revolted. Though the revolt was put down by the legate of upper Germany, L. Verginius Rufus, who refused to be saluted as emperor (imperator) by his troops, the two legions in Hispania Tarraconensis, had already (Mar.) saluted as emperor their 72-year-old legate, Servius Sulpicius Galba. When the praetorian guard, under the prefect Nymphidius Sabinus, recognized Galba, the senate declared Nero a public enemy. He committed suicide in a villa outside Rome, and the Julio-Claudian line came to an end.  6
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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