Death of Britannicus (February AD 55)

Britannicus, Claudius’s natural son, died suddenly at a banquet in the palace. Tacitus describes it as poisoning, while Nero explained that the boy had epilepsy (Annals 13.16). He was buried the same night, in a downpour. Nero distributed his brother’s property among his friends. According to Tacitus the poison was prepared by Locusta, and Britannicus was about fourteen (Annals 13.15).