Helius (freedman)

Helius (died 69) was a prominent freedman in the time of ancient Roman Emperor Nero.[1] He and Patrobius exercised great and pernicious power and influence under Nero. Helius was the de facto ruler of Rome in the absence of Nero.

Early career

According to Cassius Dio, Helius was an imperial freedman of Claudius, later serving Nero.[2]

Nero's reign

Under the reign of emperor Nero (r. 54–68 AD), Helius was at the head of the imperial court and conducted business on behalf of the emperor.[3]

The fall of Junius Silanus

In 54 AD, the first death under the new emperor was that of Junius Silanus, proconsul of Asia.[4] Without Nero's knowledge, the murder was planned through the treachery of Agrippina because Silanus was the son of a great-grandson of Augustus. The murder was performed by Publius Egnatius Celer, a Roman knight, and Helius, men who had the charge of the emperor's domains in Asia. According to Tacitus, they gave the proconsul poison at a banquet, too openly to escape discovery.[5]

In 54 AD, Helius was in charge of the emperor's domains in Asia, and part of Agrippina's plot to murder the Proconsul of Asia, Junius Silanus.

Nero goes to Greece

Nero became more and more insulated by flatterers and more convinced of his musical talents, committed to go to Greece and neglected Helius' warnings about disaffection at home, which would rise to a climax with the Vindex's rebellion.[6]

Events in 64

In 64 AD, Nero left Helius in charge of Rome, with the full authority to confiscate, banish and execute men of all ranks without notifying Nero.[7][8]

Events in 67–68

In 67 AD, Nero was present at the Olympic games in Greece. During this period, Cassius Dio reports that Helius had Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus Pythicus executed because he refused to give up the name Pythicus, which Helius claimed was an insult against Nero's victory in the Pythian Games.[9] The Jewish War became a serious military commitment. Helius recalled emperor Nero to Rome in the winter of 67–68, forcing Nero to postpone his other ventures along with the news of Vindex rising which finally put an end to his plans.[10][11]

"During the absence of Nero, Rome was controlled by a freedman named Helius and by Tigellinus' colleague Nymphidius, who expanded his control of the imperial guard. After Nero's return at the end of the winter of 67/68, Tigellinus was obviously the lesser of the two prefects."[12]

Galba's reign

In 69 AD, Helius was executed along with several other of Nero's favourites after Galba came to power. They were marched in chains around the city before they were publicly executed.[13]

References
  1. Miriam Griffin (2002) Nero: The End of a Dynasty
  2. Cassius Dio 63:12
  3. K.R. Bradley (1979) Nero's Retinue in Greece, A.D. 66/67, Illinois Classical Studies 4, pp. 152–157;
  4. Tacitus 13:1
  5. "Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, BOOK XIII, chapter 1". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  6. Miriam Griffin (2002) Nero: The End of a Dynasty, p. 164
  7. Miriam Griffin (2002) Nero: The End of a Dynasty, p. 179-180
  8. Cassius Dio 63:12
  9. Cassius Dio, 63.18
  10. Miriam Griffin (2002) Nero: The End of a Dynasty, p. 233
  11. "A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Nero". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  12. "Ofonius Tigellinus - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  13. Cassius Dio 64.3
  • Miriam Griffin (2002) Nero: The End of a Dynasty
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