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Julius Caesar passed the throne to Augustus, who is his adopted son.
Augustus passed the throne to Tiberius, who is also his adopted son.
Tiberius passed the throne to Caligula, who is Tiberius' nephew's son - related but not direct offspring.
Caligula was assassinated and the throne went to Nero, still not blood offspring.
Nero committed suicide without heir.
So that's 0 for the first 5.
Contrast imperial courts in Arab world or Asian countries, it is very crucial to have blood offspring in order to keep the empire "in the family". They take this idea to a level that they exclusively use unics as servants in the imperial palaces to ensure purity of the blood. This is closer to human or animal nature - when a new male lion takes over a pride, the male lion will kill all existing cubs, then sire his own offspring.
All of the emperors listed were related, either through blood or by marriage, they were all members of the Julio-Claudian family. Octavian was Caesar's grand nephew. Tiberius was the son of Tiberius' wife from her earlier marriage and was himself married to Octavian's daughter. Caligula was the great, great nephew of Octavian, Claudius was Caligula's uncle, and Nero was the great grandson of Octavian.
The succession line was not direct, but it was an all in the family dynamic.
Julius Caesar passed the throne to Augustus, who is his adopted son.
Augustus passed the throne to Tiberius, who is also his adopted son.
Tiberius passed the throne to Caligula, who is Tiberius' nephew's son - related but not direct offspring.
Caligula was assassinated and the throne went to Nero, still not blood offspring.
Nero committed suicide without heir.
So that's 0 for the first 5.
Contrast imperial courts in Arab world or Asian countries, it is very crucial to have blood offspring in order to keep the empire "in the family". They take this idea to a level that they exclusively use unics as servants in the imperial palaces to ensure purity of the blood. This is closer to human or animal nature - when a new male lion takes over a pride, the male lion will kill all existing cubs, then sire his own offspring.
Why didn't Roman emperors have this instinct?
Monogamy was a major factor. Henry VIII also had to go through a lot of trouble to find a heir.
Eunuchs were castrated men who could not impregnate the women belonging to their masters.
i read the ottoman imperial house not only use eunuchs, they exclusively use BLACK eunuchs so to give double assurance....
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