We're busy doing the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Roman Emperors in my one class, and I discovered that Claudius had a son by his wife, Messalina(?). However, after Messalina was executed, he married Agrippina the Younger who schemed to get her son adopted by Claudius as heir to the throne. That boy was Nero.
Messalina's son died (supposedly of poisoning a few months into Nero's reign) and shortly before his toga virilis. Now my question is, what if Claudius had a) lived long enough that Britannicus (Messalina's son) was of age to succeed; or b) if Claudius had married one of the other possible candidates proposed as Empress after Messalina was divorced, and either way Britannicus were to still become emperor?
Messalina's son died (supposedly of poisoning a few months into Nero's reign) and shortly before his toga virilis. Now my question is, what if Claudius had a) lived long enough that Britannicus (Messalina's son) was of age to succeed; or b) if Claudius had married one of the other possible candidates proposed as Empress after Messalina was divorced, and either way Britannicus were to still become emperor?