The Father Of Nero: The New Emperor Of Rome

Nero, born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, was the son of Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. Both his father and his mother were of royal descent, having blood ties with previous rulers and emperors. Nero’s childhood was not a normal one. By the age of two, Nero’s mother had been exiled to the Pontine Islands, charged of adultery. The year following, his father, Domitius, died of edema, and Nero’s inheritance was seized by his uncle Caligula, the emperor at the time. Nero was not left parentless or powerless for long. In the year 41 A.D., Caligula along with his family was murdered and Claudius became the emperor of Rome. Claudius allowed the return Agrippina and took her as his fourth wife. Nero, who was now Claudius’ oldest song and consequently his heir, was next in line for the throne.

In 54 A.D., Claudius died and Nero, aged sixteen, was recognized as the new emperor of Rome. He changed his name to Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, and quickly became well known as simply Nero. Many people noted that the young emperor was still a boy, and his first year of power was heavily influenced by his mother as well as one of his tutors and a Praetorian Prefect. Eventually, conflict would arise between Agrippina

While Britannicus was still a minor, he was Claudius’ original heir. Agrippina’s theory was that because of Britannicus being Claudius’ blood son, Rome would see him as the rightful emperor once he was of legal age. Her theory was never proved correct or incorrect because the day before Britannicus became an adult, he died mysteriously. Nero claimed that his stepbrother died from a seizure, but many people believed that Nero poisoned Britannicus at a dinner party. Octavia, Nero’s wife and Britannicus’ sister became very unhappy as did Agrippina who was ordered out of the royal