Pisonian conspiracy

The conspiracy of Gaius Calpurnius Piso in 65 represented one of the major turning points in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero (54–68).

Plot

Gaius Calpurnius Piso, a renowned Roman statesman, literary benefactor, and orator, intended to have Nero assassinated and to have himself declared Emperor of Rome by the imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard. He enlisted the aid of several prominent senators, equestrians, and soldiers with a loosely conceived plan in which Faenius Rufus—joint prefect of the Praetorian Guard with Ofonius Tigellinus—would conduct Piso to the Praetorian Camp for a formal declaration by the Guard. The conspirators were said to have varying motives; some were imperialists and others were pro-republic. According to the ancient historian Tacitus, the ring leaders included Subrius Flavus, a tribune of the Praetorian court, and the centurion Sulpicius Asper, who helped Piso spawn the scheme (Pagan 73).

The conspiracy was almost betrayed by a woman named Epicharis, who divulged parts of the plan to Volusius Proculus, a fleet captain in Campania. When Proculus complained to Epicharis that Nero did not favor him, she revealed the plot, without giving him names. Instead of joining the conspiracy as Epicharis thought he would, Proculus instead turned her in. She was tortured to reveal details and names, but she remained loyal to the conspiracy and did not betray it. [Pagán 74–75]

Tacitus, our main source concerning the events of the conspiracy, admits to lacking knowledge about how Epicharis originally gained knowledge of the conspiracy where he says in his work Annales: "Meanwhile, as they were delaying and deferring hope and fear, a certain Epicharis provoked and blamed the conspirators; it is uncertain how she became actively informed" [Tacitus 15.51.1] The freedman Milichus later discovered the conspiracy and reported it to Nero's secretary, Epaphroditos, after his wife convinced him to do so (Pagan 85). After the conspiracy was revealed, Nero ordered Piso and its leaders to commit suicide. The philosopher Seneca, the poet Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, and the satirist Petronius were also implicated in the plot and dealt with in a similar fashion.

Interestingly, this Piso came from the same Piso family that was famously involved in the Year of Four Emperors (69) through the person of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus. Clearly, the Piso family played a frequent role in the court intrigues of Imperial Rome in the second half of the first century.

Members

At least 41 individuals were accused of being part of the conspiracy. Of the known 41, there were 19 Senators, 7 Equites, 11 soldiers and 4 women.

Executed or forced to commit suicide

Piso, Plautius Lateranus, Lucan, Afranius Quintianus, Flavius Scaevinus, Claudius Senecio, Vulcatius Araricus, Julius Augurinus, Munatius Gratus, Marcius Festus, Faenius Rufus, Subrius Flavus, Sulpicius Asper, Maximus Scaurus, Venetus Paulus, Epicharis, Seneca the Younger, Antonia, Marcus Vestinus Atticus

Exiled or denegraded

Novius Priscus, Annius Pollio, Glitius Gallus, Rufrius Crispinus, Verginius Flavus, Musanius Rufus, Cluvidienus Quietus, Julius Agrippa, Blitius Catulinus, Petronius Pricus, Julius Altinus, Caesennius Maximus, Caedicia, Pompeius, Cornelius Martialis, Flavius Nepos, Statius Domitius,

Pardoned or acquitted

Antonius Natalis, Cervarius Proculus, Statius Proximus, Gavius Silvanus, Acilia

ources

* Pagán, Victoria Emma. "Conspiracy Narratives in Roman History". Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2004. Pp. ix + 197. ISBN 0-292-70561-1.