WI: Marcus Claudius Marcellus Succeeds Augustus

Marcellus was the nephew/son-in-law of Rome's first emperor. Unfortunately, his two year marriage to Julia left no children and Julia then married Agrippa and then Tiberius. Marcellus was regarded by many, apparently, as Augustus' successor (although Augustus denied this), and the Emperor seemed to hold his nephew in high regard.

Thus, what if Marcellus survives to not only beget children, but perhaps even succeed to the purple?
 
We have something about him from ancient historians, but my take is that we don't really know a lot about whether Marcellus was really competent enough to hold the Romans together. It also looks like Agrippa and Tiberius didn’t like him very much and felt threatened by his growing prestige. His ascent to power could be, in the worst case, the start of another round of civil wars - or it could go perfectly peacefully. Or, more likely in my opinion, there could be a round of discreet "suicides" and "retirements to private life" for those that wouldn't support him.
 
Say he manages to get Agrippa/Tiberius on side vs the other? Or maybe with him surviving, Augustus manages a more clear cut succession
 
Augustus would die in AD 14. That's 37 years more or less until Marcellus could succeed. He has 37 years left to be under the tutelage of Augustus. He was born the same year as Tiberius. He would be given military and civil commands by his uncle, I would assume, to season him for his future role.

If Marcellus did succeed, I would assume, it would be as a sombre, experienced, respected 55 year old statesman, the same as Tiberius.
 
Tiberius was not as staid and serious as he is made out to be!! he was an ok emperor who decended into madness rather swiftly, marcellus could be anything you want him to be from the pod point of view as he dies quite young!
 

Red Orm

Banned
If Marcellus did succeed, I would assume, it would be as a sombre, experienced, respected 55 year old statesman, the same as Tiberius.

Tiberius never wanted responsibility, and hated the duties of being emperor. Maybe that's why Augustus ultimately but so much on him, increasingly over the years. Marcellus could well be the exact opposite.
 
Tiberius never wanted responsibility, and hated the duties of being emperor. Maybe that's why Augustus ultimately but so much on him, increasingly over the years. Marcellus could well be the exact opposite.

I meant in age and experience, Marcellus and Tiberius would be similar, both being born in 42 BC, and Marcellus would presumably have been given numerous political and military commands by AD 14.

Personality wise they could be opposites, of course.
 
Tiberius never wanted responsibility, and hated the duties of being emperor. Maybe that's why Augustus ultimately but so much on him, increasingly over the years. Marcellus could well be the exact opposite.

Would Marcellus, not having as much aversion to duties/responsibilities of heir presumptive, prove to better prepared for his emperorship (ie not becoming a recluse at a coastal island), than Tiberius?
 
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