Nero goes on

Roman Emperor Nero gets a bad rep because he prosecuted Christians. His fiscal and interior policy could be questioned and he was certainly power hungry (he killed his mother for power!), but that doesn't mean he was really a terrible emperor (though I'd hardly call him good or even OK). There was a myth he fiddled while Rome was burning, but all contemporary sources place him elsewhere. Nero led the relief effort once he got back.

He was popular enough that Tacitus admitted he was popular among the rural masses and the masses of those in Italia (Italy), though he said it was due to Nero being an entertainer (a low class profession at this time) and having frivolous tendencies. The lower-class, slaves, frequenters of the arena and the theaters mourned his death. Otho tried to appeal to Nero's memory in his bid for power.

Three Nero-Imposters plagued the Flavians. Ok, more like local revolts that were easily crushed, but a Caligula imposter wouldn't get anywhere.

Let's suppose the Pisonian Conspiracy happens like OTL and its conspirators are arrested and their properties confiscated by Nero. Vindex rebels like OTL. Is there any way Nero can retain power until he sires a heir or at least adopt a family member as a heir (Nero himself was adopted by his kin Claudius)? I supposed not making an enemy out of Galba might help. He might say "Look, Vindex might wanted to place you on the throne, but I don't see any evidence you betrayed me" and try to appease him. However, this is a short term solution. Nero is secretly despised by the Senate (many who think Galba would be a great Emperor, at least until Galba actually became Emperor) and many of his military commanders openly don't like him. Hispania, Germania, and Africa (modern day Egypt) have many powerful legions commanded by those who don't like him.

Of the four major built-up military formations at this time (counting single legions that aren't with another as "not a buildup"), only Vespasian hadn't openly despised Nero and appeared to be loyal. But in OTL, Vespasian became Emperor. So really, there is no reason to think Nero has large field army at his disposal!

Even if Nero averts the short-term problems that led to the Year of the Four Emperors, Vespasian might just ask the other guys who openly dislike Nero "So... you all hate that guy right? And you thought I was the last loyal general since I don't openly hate him? Well did you know I'm a very ambitious man and Nero didn't give me my bonus or credit for crushing the Jews (whose own god gave up on them from the Roman perspective)? How about we make a deal?"

In OTL, Otho tried to block Villelitus at the Alps in order to buy time for the individual legions to link up into larger field armies and then he decided to go for a pitched battle when he realized he lost everything north of the Po River.
 
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