He ruled in pre-Antonine Rome (4)

I believe the answer is:

nero

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'he ruled' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'in pre-antonine rome' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'NERO' is hidden in the letters of 'pre antonine rome'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nero that I've seen before include "Fiddling Roman emperor" , "Cruel Roman emperor" , "Barbarous Roman emperor" , "Matricidal emperor" , "Wicked fiddler" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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