Nerva was the first of the “five good emperors” of Rome, according to
Edward Gibbon. However, he was probably the least influential of that group.
Nerva – his background and rise to power
Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born in 32AD at Narnia, a town not far from
Rome. He came from a rich and privileged background, his father being a wealthy
lawyer and his grandfather and great-grandfather both having served as consul.
He was twice consul in his own right, in 71AD under Vespasian and in 90AD under
Domitian, whom he was to succeed as emperor.
It would appear that Nerva knew Domitian, who was 19 year his junior,
from the latter’s childhood. It is quite possible that he served as Domitian’s
guardian for at least some of the time during which Domitian’s father,
Vespasian, and elder brother Titus were away on campaign (his mother had died some
time before). There is a story that Nerva abused Domitian sexually, but the
source of this is doubtful, and it certainly appears that the two remained on
good terms for many years.
It was almost certainly the case that Nerva knew about the plot to
assassinate Domitian in 96AD, although it is unlikely that he was himself one
of the plotters. The conspirators clearly did not believe that Nerva was so
friendly with Domitian that he would betray them to the emperor, but Nerva also
knew that not only was he in the frame as Domitian’s successor but that
opposition to the conspirators would almost certainly lead to his own death.
Nerva as emperor
The proclamation of Nerva as emperor followed immediately on Domitian’s death,
this being a highly welcome event, at least among the senatorial class of which
Nerva was a prominent member. An orgy of denigration of Domitian followed, with
the late emperor being declared “damnatio memoriae” by the Senate. All images
of Domitian were destroyed, included the coinage, as the Senate tried to erase
his memory from the public consciousness.
This reaction could have placed Nerva in an extremely difficult
position, as it would have been very clear to him that any behaviour on his
part that resembled that of his predecessor would have put him in grave danger
of suffering the same fate. The Senate had made it blindingly obvious that the
real power lay with them, leaving Nerva, potentially, as little more than a
puppet in their hands.
However, Nerva proved to be a man with a measure of tact and good sense.
His first act as emperor was to declare that no senator would be put to death
during his reign, and he kept to his word even when a conspiracy led by one of
the senators was uncovered.
He found it more difficult to keep firm control of the Army,
particularly the Praetorian Guard. He was forced to give way to their demand
that the assassins of Domitian be punished, but he made up for this by
declaring as his successor the well-liked and respected general Marcus Ulpius
Trajanus (Trajan). The Army now knew that their interests would be upheld, and
so were able to give their firm support to Nerva throughout the rest of his
reign, which did not turn out to be all that long.
Nerva had been 64 at the time of his accession (which was an advanced
age in the first century AD) and he did not enjoy good health. He died suddenly
(possibly from a stroke) on 27th January 98AD, having reigned for
little more than a year.
His reputation
Nerva is credited (by Edward Gibbon in particular) as being the first of
the “five good emperors” between Domitian and Commodus. Whether this accolade
would have been deserved had Nerva had a longer reign is open to doubt. Nerva
certainly showed signs of weakness, and he did nothing to solve some of the
outstanding problems that he inherited from his predecessor, particularly the
embarrassment of having to pay tribute to Decebalus of Dacia, who could not be
defeated.
He prided himself on being one of the few emperors with a clear
conscience, who could step back from office any time he wanted to, but it has
to be wondered how long the Army would have waited for strong leadership, knowing
that a very strong leader was waiting in the wings.
© John Welford
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