Gaius Calpurnius Piso stood tall and good-looking in the heart of Rome. He inherited connections with many distinguished families from his father, Lucius Calpurnius Piso. His mother Licinia brought great wealth to the union as the daughter of consul Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi. This ancient house of the Calpurnii commanded respect across the empire. Piso distributed his vast fortune among beneficiaries from all Roman social classes. He sang on the tragic stage and wrote poetry for public consumption. An expert player of Latrunculi, he spent hours mastering that complex board game. Tacitus described him as affable and an excellent orator in the courts. Yet this man lacked earnestness despite his gracious speech. He craved sensual pleasures while maintaining a facade of integrity.
Exile Under Caligula
Emperor Caligula banished Gaius Calpurnius Piso from Rome in AD 40. The cause involved a scandal regarding Piso's wife Livia Orestilla. Caligula took a fancy to her and forced her to leave her husband. The emperor then accused Piso of adultery with his own wife to establish legal grounds for exile. This political maneuver stripped Piso of his standing in the capital city. He remained away from Rome for exactly one year during the reign of terror. Caligula's assassination allowed Piso to return to the city shortly thereafter. He later married Atria Galla after she departed from her first husband Domitius Silus. The episode demonstrated how quickly imperial favor could turn into destruction.Rise To Senatorial Power
Claudius recalled Piso to Rome soon after his accession in AD 41. He served as suffect consul during an unknown year within the early empire. Nero became emperor and Piso rose to become a powerful senator under that regime. By AD 62, talk among senators and equites claimed Nero was ruining Rome. The Great Fire of Rome had already struck the city by AD 65. Groups of conspirators gathered together under Piso's leadership following that disaster. He leveraged deep senatorial anger against the emperor to gain influence. His position allowed him to organize a secret initiative to replace Nero. The timing coincided with widespread unrest across the Roman aristocracy.