Tacitus - Annals 14.1

Tacitus - Annals 14.1: Poppaea puts pressure on Nero

4 Gaio 5 Vipstano 6 C. 7 Fonteio 1 consulibus 11 diu 10 meditatum 9 scelus 3 non 12 ultra 8 Nero 2 distulit , 6 vetustate 5 imperii 3 coalita 2 audacia 7 et 9 flagrantior 10 in 8 dies 12 amore 13 Poppaeae, 1 quae 4 sibi 5 matrimonium 6 et 8 discidium 10 Octaviae 12 incolumi 13 Agrippina 3 haud 2 sperans 16 crebris 17 criminationibus, 18 aliquando 19 per 20 facetias 15 incusare 22 principem 23 et 26 pupillum 25 vocare, 1 qui 5 iussis 6 alienis 3 obnoxius 7 non 8 modo 10 imperii 11 sed 13 libertatis 12 etiam 9 indigeret. 2 cur 1 enim 5 differri 4 nuptias 3 suas ? 3 formam 2 scilicet 4 displicere 5 et 6 triumphales 7 avos. 1 an 3 fecunditatem 4 et 6 verum 7 animum ? 2 timeri 3 ne 5 uxor 7 saltem 10 iniurias 9 patrum, 13 iram 12 populi 14 adversus 16 superbiam 17 avaritiam 17 que 20 matris 8 aperiat. 1 quod 2 si 5 nurum 3 Agrippina 6 non 7 nisi 10 filio 9 infestam 11 ferre 4 posset, 14 redderetur 13 ipsa 17 Othonis 16 coniugio : 2 ituram 3 quoquo 4 terrarum, 5 ubi 7 audiret 6 potius 8 contumelias 10 imperatoris 11 quam 15 viseret 13 periculis 14 eius 12 immixta . 1 haec 2 atque 4 talia 8 lacrimis 9 et 11 arte 13 adulterae 6 penetrantia 14 nemo 15 prohibebat, 17 cupientibus 18 cunctis 20 infringi 22 potentiam 21 matris 23 et 25 credente 24 nullo 31 usque 32 ad 34 caedem 35 eius 30 duratura 27 filii 29 odia .

Section 14.1 Translation: In the consulships of Gaius Vipstanus and C. Fonteius, Nero did not postpone any longer the crime which he had long contemplated, since his daring had increased because of the duration of his power and was daily more ardent because of his love for Poppaea, who, having no hope for marriage to herself and a divorce from Octavia while Agrippina was unharmed, began to rebuke the emperor with frequent accusations sometimes in jest and to call him a ward since he was submissive to the commands of others and was not only being deprived of supreme power, but even of his freedom. For why was her marriage being put off? Of course, her beauty and ancestors who had been awarded a triumph displeased him. Or was it her fertility and her loyal heart? Was it feared that as his wife she might at the very least reveal the senators' sense of injustice and the anger of the people against the pride and greed of his mother? But if Agrippina could not bear a daughter-in-law apart from one who was hostile to her son, she should be restored to her marriage with Otho: she would go anywhere in the world, where she would rather hear insults against the emperor than be involved in his dangers and see them. No one prevented these and the like which were impressive because of the tears and skill of the adulteress, as everyone wanted the mother's power to be broken and no one believed that the son's (feelings of) hatred would harden as far as murdering her.

Passage Analysis

What Happens

Book 14 opens with a dramatic turning point: Nero finally acts on his long-contemplated plan to murder his mother. Tacitus shows us Poppaea Sabina, Nero's mistress, applying psychological pressure through a calculated campaign of manipulation. She alternates between serious accusations and jokes, calling Nero a 'ward' controlled by his mother, questioning why their marriage is delayed, and suggesting she'd rather return to her husband Otho than watch Nero remain enslaved. The passage ends ominously with everyone wanting Agrippina's power broken, though none believe Nero's hatred will extend to matricide.

Key Themes & Ideas

Power and Corruption: Tacitus explicitly links the duration of power ('vetustate imperii') with moral decay - Nero's 'audacia' has grown stronger over time, suggesting tyranny is progressive.
Manipulation and Performance: Poppaea's tactics reveal sophisticated psychological manipulation - mixing tears with technique ('lacrimis et arte'), alternating jest with accusation, using rhetorical questions to overwhelm defences.
Perverted Relationships: Every relationship is corrupted - maternal love becomes domination, romantic love drives matricide, marriage requires divorce, protection masks destruction.
Public vs Private: The passage opens with consular dating (public record) but immediately plunges into sordid domestic intrigue, showing how private corruption infects the state.

Tacitean Technique

Delayed Revelation: The 'scelus' (crime) is mentioned before we know what it is or who commits it, building suspense until 'caedem' finally reveals matricide.
Loaded Language: Every word carries judgement - 'scelus' not 'factum', 'adulterae' not 'Poppaeae', 'odia' not 'ira' - the vocabulary itself condemns.
Ironic Juxtaposition: Noble concepts are perverted - 'amor' leads to murder, 'principem' is actually 'pupillum', seeking 'libertas' means killing mother.
Narratorial Intrusion: Tacitus breaks through to expose Poppaea's performance and label her 'adultera', ensuring we see through the manipulation.

Historical Context

This scene occurs in AD 59, five years into Nero's reign. Agrippina had secured Nero's succession by marrying Claudius and having Nero adopted. She expected to rule through her son, but Nero increasingly resented her control. Poppaea Sabina, wife of future emperor Otho, had become Nero's mistress but couldn't marry him while his mother lived and his wife Octavia (Claudius's daughter) remained. The mention of 'triumphales avos' reminds us that Poppaea came from genuine aristocracy, unlike Nero whose recent ancestors included freedmen. Tacitus writes with hindsight, knowing this murder will unleash Nero's worst excesses.

Questions to Consider

How does Tacitus's opening word 'consulibus' (in the consulship) create ironic contrast with what follows?
What different manipulation techniques does Poppaea employ, and why might each be effective on Nero?
How does Tacitus use grammar and word order to convey meaning (e.g., the separation of 'filii' and 'odia')?
Why might Tacitus emphasise that 'everyone' wanted Agrippina gone but 'no one' believed murder would happen?
How does the imagery of fire ('flagrantior') and penetration ('penetrantia') contribute to the passage's tone?
How effective is Tacitus' portrayal of Poppaea in this chapter and what does it add to his narrative? [15 marks]