From 54 A.D to 68 A.D emperor Nero was ruling Rome.  His mother was the great granddaughter of the emperor Augustus.  When he became the emperor, he was guided by his mother and senate.  Nero, however, was not happy about the restrictions imposed by his mother and the senate on the way he ruled Rome.  So, he murders his mother.  He also murders his wife so he can marry another woman.  He was very compulsive and corrupt.  At one point in history, some historians report that he set some sections of Rome on fire where he wanted to construct a palace.  He blamed this fire of Christians and punished the Christians for a crime that they did not commit.  St. Paul and St. Peter were martyred during his reign.  St. Peter was crucified because he was not a Roman citizen and St. Paul was beheaded as Roman citizens cannot be crucified.  He also taxed the elites of Rome to fund his projects.  This made several enemies and Emperor Nero was declared an enemy of the state.  According to some historians Nero committed suicide by forcing one of his confidants to kill him.