Editing Julio-Claudian dynasty (section)

===Claudius===
{{Main|Claudius}}
After Caligula's death, the Senate attempted and failed to restore the Republic. [[Claudius]], Caligula's paternal uncle, became emperor by the instigation of the Praetorian Guards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=BBC History – Claudius|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/claudius.shtml|access-date=2021-01-19|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|archive-date=2002-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015011903/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/claudius.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite his lack of political experience, and the disapproval of the people of Rome, Claudius proved to be an able administrator and a great builder of public works. His reign saw an expansion of the empire, including the [[Roman invasion of Britain|invasion of Britain]] in AD 43. He took a personal interest in the law, presided at public trials, and issued up to twenty edicts a day; however, he was seen as vulnerable throughout his rule, particularly by the nobility. Claudius was constantly forced to shore up his position—resulting in the deaths of many senators. Claudius also suffered tragic setbacks in his personal life. He married four times (to, in order, [[Plautia Urgulanilla]], [[Aelia Paetina]], [[Valeria Messalina]] and, finally, [[Agrippina the Younger]]) and is referenced by Suetonius as being easily manipulated. This is particularly evident during his marriage to Agrippina the Younger, his niece. Messalina saw several members of the dynasty eliminated, notably arranging for the executions of Claudius' nieces [[Julia Livilla]], daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, and [[Julia Livia]], daughter of Livilla and Drusus the Younger, as well as Julia Livilla's husband [[Marcus Vinicius (consul 30)|Marcus Vinicius]], her mother's husband [[Appius Junius Silanus]], [[Gaius Asinius Pollio (consul 23)|Gaius Asinius Pollio]], son of Tiberius' first wife Vipsania by her second husband and whose brother [[Servius Asinius Celer]] was also killed around this time, Claudius' son-in-law [[Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (husband of Claudia Antonia)|Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus]], and his parents [[Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi]] and [[Scribonia (daughter of Lucius Scribonius Libo consul 16)|Scribonia]]. Messalina herself was finally executed after being charged with adultery.<ref name=":0" />

Claudius' reign also included several attempts on his life. In order to gain political support, he married Agrippina and adopted his great-nephew [[Nero]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

With his adoption on 25 February AD 50, Nero became heir to the throne, over Claudius' own son [[Britannicus]]. Claudius died on 13 October AD 54, and Nero became emperor. A number of ancient historians accuse Agrippina of poisoning Claudius, but details on these private events vary widely.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} These events are recounted in book 12 of the Annals of Tacitus, book 61 of Cassius Dio's Roman History, and in the biographies of Nero and Claudius by Suetonius.