Julio-Claudian dynasty

The Julio-Claudian dynasty was the series of the first five Roman Emperors. They ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to AD 68, when the last of the line, Nero, committed suicide.

Dynastic relations

The dynasty is so named from the nomina or family names of its first two emperors: Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus and Tiberius Claudius Nero. The ruling line was founded upon an alliance between these two families, initially started through the marriage of Augustus to Livia, mother of Tiberius. See the Julio-Claudian family tree for the family relationships of these rulers, and their (dynastic) relation to Julius Caesar.

Related Topics:
Nomina - Julius - Caesar Augustus - Tiberius - Claudius - Livia - Julio-Claudian family tree - Julius Caesar

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The dynasty of the five emperors included in the Julio-Claudian dynasty are all linked to Julius Caesar either by marriage and/or adoption, and their "right to rule" by their relationship to the first emperor, Caesar Augustus. Augustus was not initially a Julian, but became one after being adopted by Julius Caesar. Tiberius was born a Claudian but, like Augustus before him, became a Julian upon his adoption. He was initially Augustus's stepson due to his mother's marriage to Augustus. The third emperor, Caligula, however, had both Julian and Claudian ancestry being a Julio-Claudian, and was also a direct blood great-grandson of Augustus. The fourth emperor Claudius was not a Julian, but had Claudian blood. He was however a blood grandnephew to Augustus, the exact relationship of Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus. Like Caligula before him, Nero also shared Julian and Claudian ancestry, being the second Julio-Claudian of the dynasty. Nero, again like Caligula, was a direct descendant of Augustus, a blood great-great-grandson.

Related Topics:
Julius Caesar - Caesar Augustus - Tiberius - Caligula - Claudius - Nero

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