LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Nerva: Nero
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What had Nerva done to deserve this extraordinary honor? The consulship cannot be ascribed to his slender Julio-Claudian family connection nor can it be suggested that his poetry had a special appeal to Vespasian. A mere five years earlier Nerva had been a chief supporter of Nero, and his shifting of sides had come off not only smoothly but with honors. In contrast, Tigellinus had been given the death sentence by Otho. Nerva possibly knew Vespasian in Nero’s court, but whatever presumed friendship there may have been it is not enough to bring him so close to the new ruling family. The reason he survived and amassed honors was because Nerva was indispensable.
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This demonstration of Nerva's weakness threatened an outbreak of general anarchy. It underscored the need for decisive action to prevent a slide into chaos such as had occurred after Nero's death. But without powerful support, what could Nerva do?
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Nero had more to thank Nerva for than his abilities at poetry. When he was praetor-designate, in 65, Nerva was instrumental in revealing the conspiracy of Piso (Tacitus, Annals 15.72). Four people were honored by Nero for their parts in the suppression of the conspiracy: Petronius Turpilianus, Nymphidius Sabinus, Tigellinus the Praetorian Prefect and Nerva. The first two received triumphal decorations and Tigellinus, who had been critical in crushing the conspiracy, received triumphal ornaments and a statue in the Forum of Augustus. Nerva received triumphal ornaments and the exceptional honor of his statue being placed in the palace.
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