ABSTRACT
After the assassination of Caligula, senators debated what to do. While they were discussing the relative merits of restoring the Republic or creating a truly elective Principate, their inability to control events was made painfully clear. The brother of Germanicus, Caligula's uncle Claudius, obtained the loyalty of the Praetorian Guard by promising each guardsman a gift of 15,000 sesterces. In 50, Claudius adopted Agrippina's son and gave him the name Nero Claudius Caesar. During much of Nero's reign, Rome successfully controlled the provinces and the frontiers. Trade also benefitted from the continued suppression of piracy and mitigation of some oppressive taxes for many years. In 68, Galba had sent agents to Rome to undermine the loyalty of the Praetorian Guard with a promise of 80,000 sesterces to each man. The guards succumbed to the bribe, deserted Nero, and backed Galba. Soon, other armies began to renounce their allegiance. The senate proclaimed Nero a public enemy and embraced Galba.
