Nymphidius Sabinus (d. 68) was the son of an imperial freedwoman, Nymphidia. Some speculate that his father was a gladiator named Martianus, but there are also claims he was the illegitimate son of the former Roman Emperor Caligula. Centuries: 1st century BCE - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s - 60s - 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Years: 63 64 65 66 67 - 68 - 69 70 71 72 73 Events June 9 - Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide. ... Pollice Verso (With a Turned Thumb), an 1872 painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, is a well known history painters researched conception of a gladiatorial combat. ... Roman Emperor is the term historians use to refer to rulers of the Roman Empire, after the epoch conventionally named the Roman Republic. ... For other uses, see Caligula (disambiguation). ...

After the Pisonian conspiracy against his alleged first cousin Nero in 65 A.D., executions created the opportunity for many to rise in Rome into positions of power. Among those to advance was Nymphidius, who became a colleague of Praetorian prefect Tigellinus in the Praetorian Guard after the latter's previous partner Faenius Rufus was put to death. The conspiracy of Gaius Calpurnius Piso (65 CE) represented one of the major turning points in the reign of Nero (54-68 CE). ... Nero[1] Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (54–68). ... Headline text Events By place Roman Empire Gaius Calpurnius Piso conspires against Roman emperor Nero. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1,500 km²  (580 sq mi... Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature. ... Gaius Ophonius Tigellinus, also known as Sophonius Tigellinus, was a minister and favourite of the emperor Nero. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Faenius Rufus, Roman senator, praefectus annonae, 55-62AD. Tacitus reports that (unlike most holders of that office) he did not profit from it. ...

Nymphidius gradually consolidated some authority over the Praetorians, and his promise of material reward increased their willingness to declare for Galba during the provincial revolts of 68 A.D. which led to the senatorial rejection of Nero and to his suicide that same year. Servius Sulpicius Galba (December 24, 3 BC – January 15, 69) was Roman Emperor from June 8, 68 until his death. ...

Between the death of Nero and the arrival of Galba at Rome, Nymphidius wasted no time: he orchestrated the "resignation" of Tigellinus and stood as sole commander of the praetorian guard. Galba, however, appointed a replacement for Tigellinus, Cornelius Laco, and took several further steps to eliminate potential rivals (e.g., the murder of Lucius Clodius Macer in Africa Province), all of which must have made Nymphidius uneasy. Lucius Clodius Macer was a legatus of the Roman Empire in Africa in the time of Nero. ... Roman North Africa The Roman Empire ca. ...

No longer content to help others to the throne, Nymphidius declared that he himself was a legitimate successor to Nero-- a claim which he supported with the dubious assertion that he was the illegitimate son of the former emperor Caligula. The Praetorians recognized that Galba's approach counted for more than Nymphidius' presence, and killed the would-be usurper before their new emperor arrived at Rome.

Nymphidius is significant not only because he played an instrumental part in the downfall of Nero, but also because he illustrates the heights to which even men of low birth could rise on their own initiative, as well as the tremendous importance of Praetorian loyalty for imperial succession in the turbulent Year of the Four Emperors which followed the death of Nero. The Year of the Four Emperors refers to the year 69 AD, the four emperors being Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. ...