Seneca
Born 2001 · Age 24
Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist and imperial advisor (c. 4 BC–AD 65); tutor and advisor to Nero; author of essays, letters and tragedies.
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Life & Career Timeline
Dante places Seneca in Limbo (Divine Comedy)
Centuries later Dante placed Seneca among the great pagan philosophers in the First Circle of Hell (Limbo) in his Divine Comedy (c. 1308–1320), evidencing Seneca's continued reputation.
Boccaccio discovers Tacitus and writes on Seneca's suicide
Giovanni Boccaccio, having read Tacitus, gave an account of Seneca's suicide and suggested a spiritualized/baptismal reading of his death.
Printed edition of Naturales Quaestiones (Venice, 1522)
A Renaissance printed edition of Seneca's Naturales Quaestiones was produced in Venice (Aldus/Torresano press), marking renewed scholarly interest.
Gerolamo Cardano's Encomium Neronis caricature
Gerolamo Cardano published Encomium Neronis (1562), a mock-encomium that attacked Seneca's character by inverting traditional portrayals—part of the Renaissance debate on Seneca.
All ten tragedies published collectively in print (1581)
By the late 16th century Seneca's tragedies were widely available in print (all ten appeared collectively in 1581), strongly influencing Renaissance and Elizabethan drama.
Jacques-Louis David paints The Death of Seneca (influence in art)
Seneca's suicide became a major subject in European art (e.g., Jacques-Louis David's 1773 painting), reflecting ongoing cultural impact.
Robert Bridges' verse drama Nero publishes Seneca portrayal
Seneca continued to appear in modern literature and drama (e.g., Robert Bridges' Nero, Part II, 1894), reflecting sustained literary interest.
Marries Pompeia Paulina
Seneca married Pompeia Paulina, described as younger than Seneca and wealthy; she later attempted to die with him in AD 65.
Seneca portrayed in film Quo Vadis (1951)
Seneca appears as a character in the film Quo Vadis (1951), evidencing his continuing presence in popular culture.
Composes Apocolocyntosis (satire lampooning Claudius)
Authored the satirical pamphlet Apocolocyntosis divi Claudii (The Pumpkinification of the Divine Claudius), likely during the early Nero period.
Nero becomes emperor; Seneca begins as chief advisor (with Burrus)
On Nero's accession in AD 54 Seneca (with praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus) effectively guided the early, relatively competent phase of Nero's rule.
Writes Nero's accession speeches and Claudius eulogy
Seneca drafted public speeches for Nero, including his accession address and the eulogy for Claudius.
Composes De Vita Beata (On the Happy Life)
Authored De Vita Beata, defending wealth on Stoic lines and addressing the compatibility of philosophical life with material prosperity.
Writes De Clementia (On Clemency)
Composed De Clementia as an exhortation to the young emperor Nero on mercy as the defining virtue of a ruler; dated to AD 55.
Appointed suffect consul
Seneca served as suffect consul in AD 56, a high-ranking magistracy that reflected his standing in Nero's administration.
Reported large property holdings across Italy and Egypt
Ancient sources report Seneca owning villas and estates at Baiae, Nomentum, an Alban villa, and Egyptian properties — evidence of great wealth.
Public attacks by Publius Suillius Rufus; charge of vast wealth
Senator Publius Suillius Rufus publicly attacked Seneca, alleging corruption and that Seneca had amassed c. 300 million sesterces in four years.
Prosecutes Publius Suillius; Suillius exiled and estate confiscated
In response to accusations Seneca prosecuted Suillius, resulting (according to sources) in confiscation of half Suillius' estate and his exile.
Writes De Beneficiis (On Benefits) — major treatise
Composed De Beneficiis, a multi-book treatment of giving and receiving favours (often dated to the late 50s / early 60s).
Death of Sextus Afranius Burrus; Seneca's influence wanes
The death of the praetorian prefect Burrus in AD 62 removed Seneca's key ally and marked the rapid decline of his influence over Nero.
First attempt to retire from public life (refused by Nero)
Seneca attempted to retire in AD 62 but Nero refused permission; Seneca increasingly withdrew to country estates thereafter.
Writes many of the Letters to Lucilius (Moral Letters)
Composed the Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (124 letters) in his retirement years; letters consolidate his Stoic moral counsel and practical philosophy.
Composes Naturales Quaestiones (Natural Questions)
Authored Naturales Quaestiones, a multi-book investigation into natural phenomena — one of his principal works on physics/natural theology.
Second attempt to retire (again refused by Nero)
Seneca tried again to be formally allowed to withdraw from imperial service in AD 64; Nero refused, though Seneca remained increasingly absent.
Composes De Otio and De Tranquillitate Animi (approx.)
During his semi-retirement Seneca is associated with works on leisure and mental tranquility (dates approximate, often placed c. 62–64).
Will stipulated cremation without ceremony
Seneca arranged in his will to be cremated without customary funeral rites; Tacitus records the dramatic circumstances of his death and funeral.
Pisonian conspiracy uncovered; Seneca accused of complicity
In the aftermath of the failed Pisonian plot to assassinate Nero, Seneca was accused (likely falsely or tangentially) of involvement.
Ordered by Nero to commit suicide; forced suicide executed
Ordered to take his own life, Seneca made the traditional death by opening veins, took poison, and died after immersion in a warm bath; wife Pompeia Paulina attempted suicide but was saved.
Miriam Griffin publishes major modern biography of Seneca
Miriam T. Griffin's influential biography (Seneca: A Philosopher in Politics, 1976) reappraised Seneca's life and chronology for modern scholarship.
Modern editions and translations consolidate Seneca's corpus
Twentieth century scholarship (Loeb editions, commentaries) made Seneca's letters, essays and tragedies widely available in modern editions and translations.
Taken to Rome by his aunt; begins Roman upbringing
An aunt (his mother's stepsister) took Seneca to Rome when he was young, initiating his Roman education and socialization.
Birth in Corduba (Córdoba), Hispania Baetica
Born in Colonia Patricia Corduba to Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Elder and Helvia; second of three brothers in the Annaea gens.
Education in literature, grammar and rhetoric in Rome
Received the standard elite Roman education in Latin/Greek literature, grammar and rhetoric; early rhetorical training under family influence.
Film 'Seneca — On the Creation of Earthquakes' released
A biographical film about Seneca's final days was released in 2023, demonstrating continuing cultural fascination with his life and death.
Elected quaestor and entered the Senate (probable date)
Likely elected quaestor (probably after AD 37), granting him the right to sit in the Roman Senate; exact year uncertain but commonly dated after AD 37.
Exiled to Corsica by Emperor Claudius
Accused (probably politically) of adultery with Julia Livilla; Senate condemned him to death but Claudius commuted to exile on Corsica, where he spent about eight years.
Death of his only son (weeks before exile)
Seneca mentions in Consolation to Helvia that his only son died a few weeks before Seneca's exile; the child's parentage is uncertain.
Survives Caligula's alleged order to commit suicide
Caligula reportedly ordered Seneca to die because of his oratorical success, but Seneca survived—ancient accounts say because of his ill health.
Writes Consolation to Helvia (to his mother)
Authored De Consolatione ad Helviam Matrem while in exile, consoling his mother on his banishment; one of his early surviving consolations.
Writes Consolation to Polybius
Composed De Consolatione ad Polybium, consoling Polybius (a freedman of Claudius) on the death of his brother — a work containing flattery and a plea for recall.
Granted praetorship and becomes tutor to young Nero
Agrippina obtained the praetorship for Seneca and appointed him magister (tutor) to her son Nero; a key turning point in Seneca's career.
Writes De Brevitate Vitae (On the Shortness of Life)
Composed De Brevitate Vitæ, addressed to Paulinus, arguing that life is long enough if time is used wisely; often dated to his early post-recall period.
Recalled to Rome through Agrippina's influence
Agrippina the Younger (later Nero's mother) secured Seneca's recall from Corsica in AD 49 and advanced his political rehabilitation.
Key Achievement Ages
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