![]() ![]() Hailing from a noble Roman family with a strong republican tradition, Brutus’ commitment to the ideals of the Roman Republic would shape his destiny.īy 44 BC, Julius Caesar had accumulated immense power, culminating in his appointment as "dictator perpetuo," effectively making him a perpetual dictator. Marcus Junius Brutus, born in 85 BC, is remembered for the pivotal role he played in the assassination of Julius Caesar. ![]() Not all of history’s deadliest assassins were professional killers. Deadly Moments in History: Ancient Serial Killers (Video).Who Killed the King? An Ancient Irish Murder Mystery.When Nero fled Rome in 68 AD, he asked Locusta for a special dose just for him (although he never used it). From that point onwards she became his personal poisoner and pupils were sent to learn her craft. Nero is said to have rewarded his poisoner by giving her a full pardon and large estates in the country. Suffice to say the second poison she provided did the job. Locusta agreed and provided Nero with a poison but when it failed to kill Britannicus Nero had Locusta flogged and threatened to kill her. The following year in 55 AD, Nero went to Locusta to demand another poison, this time for Claudius’ son Britannicus. ![]() With Claudius dead, Agrippina put her son, Nero on the throne. His doctor, Gaius Stertinius Xenophon, then poisoned him a second time, by pushing a feather soaked in poison down his throat, ostensibly to help him vomit. To avoid suspicion the amount of poison put in the food was just enough to make Claudius ill, making him rush to the bathroom in agony. Sketch of Locusta testing poison on a slave in Nero's presence. Supposedly Locusta gave Agrippina Atropa belladonna, which was sprinkled on mushroom and given to the emperor via his food-taster, Halotus. By 54 AD her notoriety had already ended her up in prison, where she caught the attention of Empress Agrippina, wife of Emperor Claudius.Īccording to the Roman historian Tacitus, Agrippina tasked Locusta with supplying a poison that could discretely get rid of her husband. Locusta is said to have come from Gaul but to have made her way to Rome where she made a living as a professional poisoner. Born in the 1st century AD, Locusta would become infamous for her role as a poisoner responsible for several high-profile assassinations, shaping a sinister legacy in the heart of the Roman Empire. Locusta the Poisoner is certainly one of the more famous assassins on this list. From poisoners to zealots, from revolutionaries to outcasts, here are seven of history’s greatest assassins. Some killed for money, some for their religious beliefs, and some out of loyalty to their nations. These ancient assassins and covert organizations were not mere killers they were master strategists and agents of political change, their actions resonating through the ages. In the annals of history, there exist shadowy figures and clandestine groups whose lethal skills and cunning tactics have left an indelible mark on the world. ![]()
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