Tales of Nero's casual extramarital exploits are well known, but his latest affair with noblewoman Poppaea Sabina appears much more serious. Poppaea Sabina, currently married to Nero's friend Marcus Salvius Otho, is attractive and intelligent, and Nero appears very much enamored of her. The emperor's mother, Agrippina, is said to be against Nero's taking of a new mistress, as she believes it will threaten his marriage to Octavia.
Though Romans were generally comfortable with Nero's relationship with Claudia Acte, Nero's relationship with Poppaea may lead to a divorce with Octavia, against all traditional Roman family values. We expect that Romans will likely be much less receptive to this relationship if it develops into anything significant.
Knowing the dramatic tendencies of the Imperial family, we're sure we can expect more developments on this situation soon. We will keep you posted.
