 According to Cassius Dio , the conspirators approached Nerva as a potential successor prior to the assassination , which indicates that he was at least aware of the plot . Suetonius by contrast does not mention Nerva , but he may have omitted his role out of tactfulness . Considering the works of Suetonius were published under Nerva 's direct descendants Trajan and Hadrian , it would have been less than sensitive of him to suggest the dynasty owed its accession to murder . On the other hand , Nerva lacked widespread support in the Empire , and as a known Flavian loyalist his track record would not have recommended him to the conspirators . The precise facts have been obscured by history , but modern historians believe Nerva was proclaimed Emperor solely on the initiative of the Senate , within hours after the news of the assassination broke . 
 According to Cassius Dio , the conspirators approached Nerva as a potential successor prior to the assassination , which <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>indicates</mark></a> that he was at least aware of the plot . Suetonius by contrast <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>does</mark></a> not mention Nerva , but he may <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> omitted his role out of tactfulness . Considering the works of Suetonius <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> published under Nerva <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>direct descendants Trajan and Hadrian , it would have been less than sensitive of him to suggest the dynasty owed its accession to murder . On the other hand , Nerva lacked widespread support in the Empire , and as a known Flavian loyalist his track record would not <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>have</mark></a> recommended him to <a href='None' title='7'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>conspirators</mark></a> . The precise facts <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>have</mark></a> been obscured by history , but modern historians believe Nerva was proclaimed Emperor solely on the initiative of the Senate , within hours after the news of the assassination broke . 
According to Cassius Dio , da conspirators approached Nerva as a potential successor prior to tdaassassination , which indicate that he was at least aware of thdalot . Suetonius by contrast do not mention Nerva , but he may done omitted his role out of tactfulness . Considering the works of Suetonius was published under Nerva  direct descendants Trajan and Hadrian , it would have been less than sensitive of him to suggest the dynasty owed its accession to murder . On the other hand , Nerva lacked widespread support in the Empire , and as a known Flavian loyalist his track record would not done recommended him to no conspirators . Thedaecise facts done been obscured by history , but modern historians believe Nerva was proclaimed Emperor solely on the datiative of the Senate , within hours after the news of the assassination broke .