DBWI: Make Cluaudius Emperor

Here's the challenge -- make Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus, noted historian, scholar, and member of the Claudian imperial family -- son of Drusus, brother of Germanicus -- Emperor of Rome.

Claudius.JPG
 
Maybe if Germanicus dies early, just after his accession to imperium, perhaps in the battles in Persia, then his brother could use some of his friends (and his brother fortune) to corrupt praetorians.

But honestly, i think that Caligula should have succeded to his father, as OTL, because he was far more popular than Claudius in the army, and at Roma. Maybe it coud have died in Brittania before his father, making him adopt his brother? Rather unlikely, but honestly, the imperial curt was decimated during Tiberius reign, and Germanicus wasn't really fond of old roman families, trying to usurp his power.

So, earliest death of Caligula, adoption of Claudius, death of Germanicus.
 
I don't know if Claudius could had many chances to become Emperor... probably Lucius Domitius Enobarbus, son of Agrippina Minor, could had better chances, he had after all the approvation of his grandfather... if he didn't died in Armenia so young...

After all, even if Claudius didn't have the possibility to become emperor, however it could be a posthumous consolation that his son Britannicus obtained the Imperial honour later... Even if the ambitions of her sister Octavia and her legacy caused many troubles to the Empire...
 
I don't know if Claudius could had many chances to become Emperor... probably Lucius Domitius Enobarbus, son of Agrippina Minor, could had better chances, he had after all the approvation of his grandfather... if he didn't died in Armenia so young...

After all, even if Claudius didn't have the possibility to become emperor, however it could be a posthumous consolation that his son Britannicus obtained the Imperial honour later... Even if the ambitions of her sister Octavia and her legacy caused many troubles to the Empire...

A consolation?
Well, the main problem is that Brittanicus was a bigot warmonger who began one of the worst era of anarchy in the Roman Empire. So, consolation, really?
I suppose that Claudius could have been sort of regent for Domitius if he had lived, after all, he was quite popular into the senate, and Claudius could have been supported not as real imperator, but at least, in sort of inter-imperator (more or less like inter-rex).

But i think it needs still the early death of Caligula.
 
Well, I think the interesting thing isn't so much putting Claudius on the throne it's imagining what he'd be like.

I mean, he had some severe health problems depending on which source you read so it might well have been a reign dominated by powerful advisors.

And culturally of course, he might not have been in a position to finish his histories. Concievably much of the informaton he collected about the Etruscans would be lost.
 
A consolation?
Well, the main problem is that Brittanicus was a bigot warmonger who began one of the worst era of anarchy in the Roman Empire. So, consolation, really?

OOC: I'm trying to imagine how bad he'd have to be to be considered a bigot and a warmonger by Roman Imperial standards?
 
OOC: I'm trying to imagine how bad he'd have to be to be considered a bigot and a warmonger by Roman Imperial standards?

OOC: Also ATL Claudius already seems to have a better reputation than his OTL counterpart did given he is recognized for being both a scholar and historian. This certainly seems better than the previously prevailing notion that he was an easily manipulated incompetent.
 
OOC: Worse than OTL Caligula?

OOC: Well, if we take the position that Caligula's infamous lunacy was posthumous bad press, then a TL in which Caligula ruled successfully for many years would leave him with quite a positive reputation. IIRC Claudius was very class-conscious and that might, in future centuries, grow into an elitist reputation compared with Caligula's populism... no, I guess not. Can't twist that far.:rolleyes:
 
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