 Nero was not expected to become Emperor because his maternal uncle , Caligula , had begun his reign at the age of 24 with enough time to produce his own heir . Nero 's mother , Agrippina , lost favour with Caligula and was exiled in 39 after her husband 's death . Caligula seized Nero 's inheritance and sent him to be brought up by his less wealthy aunt , Domitia Lepida , who was the mother of Valeria Messalina , Claudius 's third wife . Caligula , his wife Caesonia and their infant daughter Julia Drusilla were murdered on 24 January 41 . These events led Claudius , Caligula 's uncle , to become emperor . Claudius allowed Agrippina to return from exile . 
 Nero was not expected to become Emperor because his maternal uncle , Caligula , <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> begun his reign at the age of 24 with enough time to produce his own heir . Nero <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>mother , Agrippina , lost favour with Caligula and was exiled in 39 after her husband <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>death . Caligula seized Nero <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>inheritance and sent him to be brought up by his less wealthy aunt , Domitia Lepida , <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a>was the mother of Valeria Messalina , Claudius <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>third wife . Caligula , his wife Caesonia and their infant daughter Julia Drusilla <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> murdered on 24 January 41 . These events led Claudius , Caligula <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>uncle , to become emperor . Claudius allowed Agrippina to return from exile . 
Nero was not expected to become Emperor b/c his maternal uncle , Caligula , done begun his reign at the age of 24 w enough time to produce his own heir . Nero  mother , Agrippina , lost favour with Caligula and was exiled in 39 after her husband  death . Caligula seized Nero  inheritance and sent em to b brought up by his less wealthy aunt , Domitia Lepida , was da mother of Valeria Messalina , Claudius  third wife . Caligula , his wife Caesonia and their infant daughter Julia Drusilla was murdered on 24 January 41 . dem events led Claudius , Caligula  uncle , to become emperor . Claudius allowed Agrippina to return from exile .