Nero Claudius Drusus

Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, born Decimus Claudius Drusus and variously called Drusus, Drusus I or Drusus the Elder (38 - 9 BC) was the younger son of Livia, wife of Augustus Caesar, and her first husband, Tiberius Claudius Nero. However he was born shortly after Livia had divorced him and married Augustus. So rumors suspected Augustus to be the real father, providing his motivation for a sudden marriage to an already pregnant married woman. According to Suetonius, he was born with the praenomen Decimus, but it was later changed to Nero.

Related Topics:
38 - 9 BC - Livia - Augustus Caesar - Tiberius Claudius Nero - Rumor - Suetonius - Praenomen

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Drusus later married Antonia Minor, the daughter of Mark Antony and Augustus's sister, Octavia. Their children were Germanicus, Livilla, and the future Emperor Claudius.

Related Topics:
Antonia Minor - Mark Antony - Octavia - Germanicus - Livilla - Claudius

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Drusus, like his brother Tiberius, was a skilled general, campaigning in Germany and along the Danube. He defeated the Sicambri at the lower Danube in 11 BC and re-settled them west of the Rhine. He died on campaign against the Marcomanni in consequence of a fall from a horse. He was extremely popular with the legionaries, who erected a monument in Moguntiacum (modern Mainz) on his behalf. Augustus later wrote a biography of him which does not survive.

Related Topics:
Tiberius - Sicambri - 11 BC - Marcomanni - Fall from a horse - Legionaries - Mainz

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