Piso
Role: Roman official · First appears: Caligula 3
Piso was a Roman official who became an enemy of Germanicus, after Germanicus found himself subjected to magical attacks and imprecations and renounced their friendship. In the Nero material, Piso was associated with a conspiracy against Nero, described as the more dangerous of two plots and discovered at Rome; the conspirators were later brought to trial in triple fetters. When the plot was discovered, M. Annaeus Lucanus was identified as its active leader, confessed, and died after choosing to have his veins opened.
Later, Galba adopted Piso, and Otho was disappointed when Piso was preferred over him. Otho then turned to violence, sending soldiers to kill both Galba and Piso.
Relationship record
Life events
- Germanicus renounced all friendship with Piso after magical attacks against him.(Caligula 3)
- With: Germanicus
- “he never showed the smallest resentment, until he found himself attacked by magical charms and imprecations; and even then the only steps he took was to renounce all friendship with him”
- Piso’s conspiracy against Nero was discovered.(Nero 36 · 📍 Rome)
- With: Nero
- “the former and more dangerous of which was that formed by Piso, and discovered at Rome”
- The conspirators were brought to trial in triple fetters.(Nero 36)
- Galba adopted Piso.(Galba 18)
- With: Galba
- “Farther, upon the day of his adopting Piso, when he was to harangue the soldiers”
- Galba preferred Piso over Otho for adoption.(Otho 5)
- Otho sent soldiers to kill Galba and Piso.(Otho 6 · 📍 the camp)
- M. Annaeus Lucanus led Piso's conspiracy, confessed, and died by having his veins opened.(Horace)
- With: M. Annaeus Lucanus Nero
- “At length, he became nearly the most active leader in Piso’s conspiracy ; and while he dwelt without reserve in many quarters on the glory of those who dipped their hands in the blood of tyrants, he launched out into open threats of violence, and carried them so far as to boast that he would cast the emperor’s head at the feet of his neighbours. When, however, the plot was discovered, he did not exhibit any firmness of mind. A confession was wrung from him without much difficulty; and, humbling himself to the most abject entreaties, he even named his innocent mother as one of the conspirators; hoping that his want of natural affection would give him favour in the eyes of a parricidal prince. Having obtained permission to choose his mode of death, he wrote notes to his father, containing corrections of some of his verses, and, having made a full meal, allowed a physician to open the veins in his arm.”
Caligula 3
- enemies with Germanicus “He was so extremely mild and gentle to his enemies, whoever they were, or on what account soever they bore him enmity, that, although Piso rescinded his decrees, and for a long time severely harassed his dependents, he never showed the smallest resentment, until he found himself attacked by magical charms and imprecations; and even then the only steps he took was to renounce all friendship with him, according to ancient custom, and to exhort his servants to avenge his death, if any thing untoward should befall him.”
Nero 36
- enemies with Nero “He was the more encouraged to this, because he had some plausible pretence for carrying it into execution, from the discovery of two conspiracies against him; the former and more dangerous of which was that formed by Piso, and discovered at Rome; the other was that of Vinicius, at Beneventum.”
Galba 18
- parent: Galba (Adoption establishes Galba as Piso's parent.) “Farther, upon the day of his adopting Piso, when he was to harangue the soldiers, the seat which he used upon those occasions, through the neglect of his attendants, was not placed, according to custom, upon his tribunal; and in the senate-house, his curule chair was set with the back forward.”
Otho 5
- rivals with Otho “But finding himself disappointed, by Piso’s being preferred before him, he turned his thoughts to obtaining his purpose by the use of violence;”
- parent: Galba (Piso was preferred over Otho for adoption by Galba.) “But finding himself disappointed, by Piso’s being preferred before him, he turned his thoughts to obtaining his purpose by the use of violence;”
Otho 6
- enemies with Otho “Upon this, sending some soldiers to dispatch Galba and Piso, he said nothing else in his address to the soldiery, to secure their affections, than these few words: ‘I shall be content with whatever ye think fit to leave me.’”
Horace
- enemies with Nero “At length, he became nearly the most active leader in Piso’s conspiracy; and while he dwelt without reserve in many quarters on the glory of those who dipped their hands in the blood of tyrants, he launched out into open threats of violence, and carried them so far as to boast that he would cast the emperor’s head at the feet of his neighbours.”
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Extracted from the original text of The Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Made with Rho MD.