Locusta: The World's First Serial Killer?

Unveil the shadowy legend of Locusta, the world's first serial killer. Dive into Ancient Rome's intrigue, poison plots, and imperial scandals. Was she real or myth? Join us to uncover the truth!

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[hulakan]

"Serial killer" does not seem a very accurate description. Professional assassin may be more accurate. The main difference is that serial killers choose their own victims based on personal psychological drives. Assassins are assigned victims and just fulfill contracts.

[daphnereal]

Oooh, I did a presentation on her in middle school. I'd forgotten all about it. It's fun to see this!

[Onora]

You've probably done a video on her already, but have you done Giulia Tofana yet? She's technically labeled a serial killer but her poisons were usually sold to women trying to seek an escape from abusive marriages since they couldn't iniate a divorce themselves so it was literally their only way out or consign themselves to a life of constant physical and emotional torment. Her "aqua tofana" would be mixed into something like a food, drink or a makeup product. She's probably the one serial killer you can actually sympathize with because if divorce was legal her services wouldn't have been required.

Not condoning murder by any means, but if you're gonna enslave someone like that you can't be surprised if a market pops up around potential "freedom products"

[sarameyrick]

If humans still exist in 2000 years imagine a future version of Simon talking about our royals and leaders 😮😊

[zarasbazaar]

Actually Livia started killing people in the Julian household long before Aggrippina came around. You can also make the argument that Locusta was not a killer, if she just sold the poisons and never administered any of them.

[brianedwards]

What about Claudius' grandmother Livia? Her reputation for murder by poison was legendary and her husband Tiberius' reign was arguably worse than Nero's because of his decision to leave Rome for Capri and put it in the hands of Lucius Sejanus who embarked on a reign of terror where none were safe.

[garymaidman]

The reason why we may never know how many people she played a part in killing? She listened to Simon...never write down your crimes.

[paraquatpoptarts]

"I am Locusta of Borg. Resistance is futile."

[clintonpangburn]

You just need to build a giant rainforest vivarium Simon. Can't wait for AntsCanada to drop that video!!

[diyeana]

I'm guessing that as long as there's been homosapiens, there's also been those who murdered others, with no reason other than a desire to see them suffer. The human capacity to be cruel is just as great as the capacity to be kind. The Yin-Yang balance of society.

If these stories of cruelty make you sad, choose kindness in your daily interactions. Be the Yang.

[AnimeShinigami]

I was like "Locusta, Locusta... i've heard that name before." Then you mentioned Claudius (who's name means lame btw) and I was like. "OMG yeah that Locusta. Man Agripina was a real bitch!"

[westerntanager]

I recently read Margaret George's "The Confessions of young Nero, " a great novel in which Locusta is an important character. It is a wonderful book about Nero, a misunderstood artist and product of his environment. Locusta WAS real, apparently.

[OcarinaSapphr-]

I think you missed a couple of steps; Agrippina's issue early on, was with Nero's obsession with his side-piece, Acte- a freedwoman - over his wife (& cousin/ step-sister), Octavia - whose union & bloodline was considered essential to his position. Because of Agrippina's antipathy toward his girlfriend, & his own burgeoning power- he stopped listening to her (reducing her influence & importance at Court, & in the Imperial government), leading her to turn her attention to the younger & neglected Britannicus, who she began to support as a potentially more tractable replacement- which freaked Nero out -- he realised he'd have to cut off her support base & his rival, before taking her out; during one evening's feast, Britannicus was given mulled wine- which he complained was too hot, so he asked for water to cool it - the wine had been tested by the food taster, but the water was not- so this youth is dying in front of a dozen people, while Nero's casually telling everyone not to worry, he's just having an epileptic fit- & he's eventually taken out of the dining room before he actually expires.
It was an alarming message to her, but Nero wasn't done; as well as reducing/ removing her honours & privelges she'd obtained under Claudius, like her presence in councils & large numbers of bodyguards- he tried several attempts at poisoning (but one assumes she & Locusta, having the working relationship they had- gave her antidotes to any available poison) - then there was the whole collapsing boat-thing, which she apparently survived by being a strong swimmer, & having an unlucky friend with her- who called out for help, & her 'rescuers' battered her to death in the dark (thinking her the former Empress), while Agrippina swam ashore. After that, Nero abandoned subtlety, & sent Praetorian guards to kill her.
I rather imagine he would have killed Britannicus eventually (as he would later kill his wife, to marry Poppea [& later kill her in a fit of temper] - he also later killed a cousin who turned down his marriage proposal, not surprising- given the fate of her half-sister)- but his mother's attempts to prop the young man up, just sped his death along...

[joseponte]

"Her son, Nero" yeah now that makes sense

[Autumnz]

time for another journey into the shadows!

[LeifEriccson]

Ah yes, poisoned mushrooms. My favorite delicacy.

[noctua]

Hey Simon you should make a video to the medival serial murderer Christmann Gniperdoliga. He killed like over 900 people.

[SafetySpooon]

The "c" in "aconite" is a HARD c.

[zionkid]

Serial killer isn’t the proper term to use for her. She was a hit man for the Royal court when needed. She was more of an assassin

[jmanj]

Ok, I'm going to stay flexible here.

Forgot to grab my reading glasses.

Apparently this video isn't about bugs...

😄