Often I wonder, what if the Julio-Claudian Dynasty had lasted longer? Then I remembered, that the conditions didn't exist in the First Century CE/AD to allow such a feeble edifice to sustain itself without men of the stature of Caesar and Augustus, or the latte Five Good Emperors, the institutions of the Principate could not lead to a system any more stable than a 70s South American Military Junta, or a Mafia Family, so once the sum of all political power and great offices of the state befell upon men like Nero and Calugula, it all came tumbling down.
No amount of Great Men of History, no matter how great, could have made the first Roman Dynasty last for any significant lenght of time, but perhaps, given the right POD (X heir does'n't die young, Sejanus is purged earlier, X Emperor dies earlier, etc) and right member of the Julio-Claudian family tree , one can get better results, or at least make them last an even century.
Nero Claudius Drusus (38 BC to 9BC), Drusus I or Drusus the Elder, son of Livia Drusilla, stepson of Augustus, brother of Tiberius, father of Germanicus and Claudius. One of Rome's greatest generals at the time of his death.
Germanicus (15 BC to 19AD) son of the above, adopted son of Tiberius older brother to Claudius, father to Caligula, one of Rome's most popular and talented generals at the time. Twice consul, avenger of the Teutoborg forest.
Gaius Caesar (20 BC to 4 AD) son of Agrippa and nephew to Augustus. Consul and commander of the Eastern Provinces, achieved peace with Parthia, but campaigns in the East broke his health and mind.
Lucius Caesar (17 BC to 2 AD) son of Agrippa and nephew to Augustus. Died of illness.
Drusus Julius Caesar (14 BC to 23 AD), Drusus the Younger or Drusus II, son of Tiberius, brother to Germanicus, who's political career he mirrored, albeit not his military one. Popular like Germanicus, twice consul, he might have ruled alongside the general, if not for his death and for Sejanus.
Drusus Caesar (8 to 33 AD) son of Germanicus, grandson and heir of Tiberius. Victim of Sejanus' ambition.
Nero Julius Caesar (6 to 31 AD) son of Germanicus, brother to Drusus Caesar, also ran afoul of Sejanus, by virtue of existing.
Britannicus (41 to 55 AD) son of Claudius, lost favor and his position as heir to Nero after his mother's downfall.
No amount of Great Men of History, no matter how great, could have made the first Roman Dynasty last for any significant lenght of time, but perhaps, given the right POD (X heir does'n't die young, Sejanus is purged earlier, X Emperor dies earlier, etc) and right member of the Julio-Claudian family tree , one can get better results, or at least make them last an even century.
Nero Claudius Drusus (38 BC to 9BC), Drusus I or Drusus the Elder, son of Livia Drusilla, stepson of Augustus, brother of Tiberius, father of Germanicus and Claudius. One of Rome's greatest generals at the time of his death.
Germanicus (15 BC to 19AD) son of the above, adopted son of Tiberius older brother to Claudius, father to Caligula, one of Rome's most popular and talented generals at the time. Twice consul, avenger of the Teutoborg forest.
Gaius Caesar (20 BC to 4 AD) son of Agrippa and nephew to Augustus. Consul and commander of the Eastern Provinces, achieved peace with Parthia, but campaigns in the East broke his health and mind.
Lucius Caesar (17 BC to 2 AD) son of Agrippa and nephew to Augustus. Died of illness.
Drusus Julius Caesar (14 BC to 23 AD), Drusus the Younger or Drusus II, son of Tiberius, brother to Germanicus, who's political career he mirrored, albeit not his military one. Popular like Germanicus, twice consul, he might have ruled alongside the general, if not for his death and for Sejanus.
Drusus Caesar (8 to 33 AD) son of Germanicus, grandson and heir of Tiberius. Victim of Sejanus' ambition.
Nero Julius Caesar (6 to 31 AD) son of Germanicus, brother to Drusus Caesar, also ran afoul of Sejanus, by virtue of existing.
Britannicus (41 to 55 AD) son of Claudius, lost favor and his position as heir to Nero after his mother's downfall.