# Drusus Nero — The Lives of the Caesars character guide

> Drusus Nero in The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Drusus, Nero, Claudius Nero, The father of Claudius Caesar

**First appearance:** 0002-book-iii-tiberius

## Who they are

Tiberius's younger brother, a soldier who died young in the German campaigns, leaving behind a son, Claudius, whom everyone underestimated.

## Relationships

### [Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/tiberius)

_family_

Drusus Nero was Tiberius's younger brother, and Tiberius deeply mourned his death, though some sources suggest underlying rivalry.

### [Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/tiberius)

_family_

Drusus Nero was Tiberius's younger brother, and Tiberius deeply mourned his death, though some sources suggest underlying rivalry.

## In the story

### [Book III: Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-iii-tiberius)

Son of Tiberius; reads Tiberius's speech in the senate when Tiberius feigns grief.

### [Book V: The Deified Claudius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-v-the-deified-claudius)

Claudius's father, a general who campaigned in Germany and died young; his achievements and suspicious death are recounted.

### [Book VI: Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vi-nero)

Born at Antium nine months after Tiberius' death; his father Domitius regarded him as an abomination; later became emperor and adopted by Claudius.

### [Book VII: Galba—Otho—Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-vii-galba-otho-vitellius)

Nero's father, Lucius Domitius, was succeeded by Galba in a consulship. Vitellius made funerary offerings to Nero and openly urged a flute-player to render something from Nero's book.

### [Galba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/galba)

Nero's reign preceded Galba's; Galba revoked Nero's grants and punished his supporters.

### [Otho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/otho)

Emperor whose favor Otho cultivated; Otho was privy to Nero's plans, including the murder of his mother, and was banished after a rivalry over Poppaea Sabina.

### [Vitellius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/vitellius)

Vitellius was dear to Nero for his service in allowing Nero to compete in the Neronia.

### [Book VIII: The Deified Vespasian—The Deified Titus—Domitian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/book-viii-the-deified-vespasian-the-deified-titus-domitian)

Emperor during whose reign Vespasian was banished from court and later given command in Judaea.

### [The Deified Vespasian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/the-deified-vespasian)

Emperor whose favor Vespasian lost by falling asleep during his performances; later Vespasian was sent to Judaea under Nero's reign.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in notes about his reign, the great fire, and his statue.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters/drusus_nero
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_of_the_caesars_se/characters