The death of Claudius in 54 A.D., was thought to have been planned and carried out by his wife Agrippina Minor. She wanted to secure the title as emperor for her adopted son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Before his death, Claudius, though he already had a son named Britannicus, he adopted Lucius, who later changed his name to Nero Claudius Caesar. On Claudius's death, the praetorian guards, under their perfect Sextus Afranius Burrus, Agrippina's agent, declared Nero emperor at the age of 17.
The early part of his reign was characterized by direction from these older figures, including Agri…
