lokariototal

I read on wikipedia that both Caligula and Nero were from the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Does this mean they are direct descendants of Julius Caesar or something?

sylla1

Caius Julius Caesar the Dictator left no legitimate male issue (at least from the legal Roman standpoint; Ptolemaeus XV Philopator aka "Caesarion" may or may not have been his biological son).

All the emperors of this dynasty were members of the Caesar family within the patrician gens Iulia by adoption.

Caius Julius Caesar Jr (aka "Caligula") was born within the patrician gens Claudia; he was related with CJ Caesar the Dictator via his maternal grandmother Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus and therefore great-grand-niece of Caesar the Dictator.

The future emperor Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (i.e. from the Ahenobarbus family of the gens Domitia); from his maternal side he was great-grandson of Julia the Elder (mentioned above).

The family tree below might be helpful.


(Source: Wikicommons)

Ballista

I would be interested to see how close to present day that dynasty could be traced to. That would be one hell of a claim to fame!

pixi666

Frankly, I'd be a bit embarrassed to be able to trace my lineage back to the likes of Nero and Caligula

bunyip

I wouldn't; that would mean I'd also be related to Augustus and Claudius 1.both of whom I admire ,albeit for different reasons. However,I would be acutely embarrassed to be related to the lot which makes up today's British Royal family.

The last member of that shower who had an IQ above ambient room temperature was Albert,Prince consort of Queen Victoria,and he died in 1861.

steve53

Any remains of known Caesars floating around the world of Archaeology? Do a DNA analysis and see what modern person comes closest.

sylla1

Good point; not to tell being related too with the famous CJ Caesar the Dictator and his whole patrician gens, purportedly going back to Aeneas & the Trojan dynasty plus the goddess Venus & the Olympic deities themselves; aside of course of the patrician Claudii, the Octavii, the Livii, the Domitii and esentially most (if not all) of the relevant noble families of the late Roman Republican period.

Mandate of Heaven

I think Nero killed off any potential threat to his throne. That means all the legitimate Julio-Claudian males. That is why after he died, Rome was split. Many wanted to be the emperors because there was no legitimate heirs.