WI: Claudia Augusta [Nero's Daughter] Survives to Adulthood?

In January of 63 AD, a daughter was born to Nero and his wife Poppaea Sabina in Antium. She was named Claudia and was honored by Nero with the title of Augusta. There were gold statues placed in temples and games were held in her honor.

Three months later, in April of the same year, she died of an illness. But what if she had lived? By June of 68 AD (when Nero's reign ended) she would be 5 1/2 years old. Could she survive the tumultous period of the year of the four emperors, and if so, what effect on legitimacy would she have for the future?

More importantly, how could this alter Nero's reign and his downfall? A living member of the Julio-Claudian house would pose a problem I presume. It was not unheard of (though not common either) for the Romans to betrothe a girl so young to someone else (Sextus Pompey betrothed his daughter, Pompeia Magna, to Marcellus when she was 3) so could Nero betrothe her to someone to give himself a clear cut successor? I know Nero was hardly thinking about succession at this point, but havving a clear cut successor might ward off plots against him, and sure up his position.

Thoughts?
 
If she's healthy and does not die from any disease, then she may be married to Titus and then after to Domitian.
 
If she's healthy and does not die from any disease, then she may be married to Titus and then after to Domitian.

I was thinking about Nero betrothing her to Corbulo to secure the loyalty of the popular general. It was around this time that Nero began to have suspicions of his loyalty, so it is possible I guess.

Though Corbulo was already married to a descendent of Augustus interestingly enough, Cassia Longina (daughter of Junia Lepida, great grand-daughter of Augustus) and had two daughters with her, Domitia and Domitia Longina. You mentioned Domitian, Domitian was married to Domitia Longina while he was emperor.

It would be interesting if Domitian's reign lasted longer and he had a son to succeed him, because that son would be a direct descendant of Augustus.
 
She was much too young to be bethroted in the 60's.

And, as far as I know, Corbulo was loyal.
 
She was much too young to be bethroted in the 60's.

And, as far as I know, Corbulo was loyal.

Corbulo was loyal yes, but Nero suspected his loyalty. So much so that he ordered him to commit suicide. Like I mentioned in the OP, Sextus Pompey betrothed his three year old daughter to Marcellus. So it's not completely out of the question, that when Nero's position gets insecure he tries to secure the loyalty of his top general through a betrothal.
 
But bethroting one's child to someone perceived as a possible threat never secured anybody.

Tiberius had his grandnephews (the sons of Germanicus) starved to death. Among them was Nero Caesar, who was married to Tiberius' own granddaughter (the daughter of his son Drusus).

Caligula had adopted Gemellus, then put him to death.

Claudius, who was not mad, had his son in law (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus married to Claudia Antonia, daughter of Claudius) executed.

Nero forced his innocent young wife Octavia to commit suicide.

I think you are mistaken in believing that marriage alliance could secure a suspicious person. The people whose life was most in danger were the ones closely linked to the emperor's family, because they were the ones who could claim dynastic legitimacy if attempting a coup.
 
But bethroting one's child to someone perceived as a possible threat never secured anybody.

Tiberius had his grandnephews (the sons of Germanicus) starved to death. Among them was Nero Caesar, who was married to Tiberius' own granddaughter (the daughter of his son Drusus).

Caligula had adopted Gemellus, then put him to death.

Claudius, who was not mad, had his son in law (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus married to Claudia Antonia, daughter of Claudius) executed.

Nero forced his innocent young wife Octavia to commit suicide.

I think you are mistaken in believing that marriage alliance could secure a suspicious person. The people whose life was most in danger were the ones closely linked to the emperor's family, because they were the ones who could claim dynastic legitimacy if attempting a coup.
But in a time of uncertainty like this, Nero might just take that chance. Nero was no Caligula or a Tiberius.
 
There were plenty of practical reasons to get Agrippina out of the picture. She was hardly the innocent victim.

I'm not saying she was. However, Nero has the dubious honor of being the only (known) Roman Emperor to have ordered his mother's execution. Whatever the reason, matricide isn't something easily forgotten or forgiven.
 
I think, slydesertfox, that you give Nero too much credit. He was insane, just as Caligula was and almost as bad as popular opinion portrays him as being.
 
I think, slydesertfox, that you give Nero too much credit. He was insane, just as Caligula was and almost as bad as popular opinion portrays him as being.

Seconded. Caligula might win the prize as the craziest Roman Emperor, but Nero's a close second. And even if only HALF of what was written was true (you have to take these things with a grain of salt since the historians no doubt wanted to ensure these Emperor's reputations were horrible) they're still pretty crazy. Just look at Nero's murder of his mother or his Golden House. Or Caligula's love affair with his sister or having the Legions attack the sea. Not the stuff of sanity.
 
I think, slydesertfox, that you give Nero too much credit. He was insane, just as Caligula was and almost as bad as popular opinion portrays him as being.

Neither of them were insane. If Nero was insane, then so was Elagabalus and Caracalla.

edit: And I don't see what suggests Nero was insane.
 
I agree with slydessertfox. You can't give credit to caricatural propaganda of senatorial so called "historians".

You should read biographies written by modern historians.

Caligula of course never did such crazy things with his army, whatever Suetonius wrote about it. The fact that he did not cross the Channel to invade Britain as he had planned has been torn into caricature. But Claudius did not launch the invasion from scratch.

Nero must have been quite popular during most of his reign, since many years after his death, an eastern usurper claimed being Nero.
 
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And everything points to him being a pretty good ruler during the time he was advised by Seneca and Burrus. He was just too Greek.
 
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