Nero Julius Caesar

Born January 17, 6 AD, Nero was the son of Germanicus, Tiberius' celebrated general, and a prince of the Julio-Claudian dynasty from birth. After his father's death and the loss of Tiberius' own son Drusus the Younger, Nero and his brother Drusus were adopted together by the emperor in September 23 AD, their political careers accelerated accordingly. But Sejanus, prefect of the Praetorian Guard, had grown powerful in Rome - ancient writers credit him with engineering Drusus the Younger's downfall - and other members of the imperial family began to fall in turn. In 29 AD, Tiberius sent a letter to the Senate attacking Nero and his mother; both were exiled. Two years later Nero died on the island of Ponza, followed by his brother Drusus in 33 AD. Their elimination cleared the path for their younger brother Caligula, who ascended after Tiberius' death in 37 AD.