Emperor Nero

Emperor Nero (54-68)   was cruel and profligate¹, guilty of the murder of his half-brother², mother, and wife, and also of the deaths of numberless³ senators and citizens whose wealth he coveted⁴. Because he was an absolute ruler his corrupt officials were able to bribe and oppress his subjects as they wished until he was fortunately assassinated⁵. He was the last of his line, the famous House of Julius to which Augustus had belonged, and the period that followed his death was known as ‘the year of the four Emperors’, because during that time no less than four rivals claimed and struggled for the coveted⁴ honour.

Footnotes:

1.     Wasting money or other things

2.     Who is a half-brother

3.     What other words with –less suffix do you know?

4.     To very much want something that someone else has

Can you find other synonyms for “assassinate”?