As a young boy, future emperor Nero witnesses the mad Emperor Caligula kill his father and exile his mother. While in exile in the pontine islands, Agrippina, his mother, sees a vision telling her that her son can become emperor, but she will have to die first. She accepts the proposal. Back in Rome, Nero, now being raised by emperor Claudius after Caligula's death, Agrippina returns. She poisons Claudius' food and Nero becomes emperor. At first, Nero cuts taxes and introduces successful programs and invades Brittania. Soon he meets a beautiful slave named Claudia Acte, and marries her, throwing off his engagement with Claudius' daughter, Claudia Octavia, telling her she can marry someone she will be happy with. Heartbroken, she arrives at an island and kills herself. Nero enjoys being married to Claudia Acte, but soon he gradually goes mad with power and sets fire to Rome.
Hans Matheson
as Nero
Rike Schmid
as Acte
Laura Morante
as Aggrippina
Matthias Habich
as Seneca
Ángela Molina
as Domitia
Ian Richardson
as Septimus
John Simm
as Caligula
Liz Smith
as Soothsayer
Massimo Dapporto
as Claudius
Maurizio Donadoni
as Burros
Jochen Horst
as Etius
Vittoria Puccini
as Claudia Octavia
