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The Roman Empire Heir Who Was Killed By Trying To Catch A Pear In His Mouth
Before he could assume the Roman throne, Tiberius Claudius Drusus died in a most unusual way
Death can sometimes come suddenly and unexpectedly. Sadly, there are cases of younger people with incredibly bright futures who are on the verge of fulfilling their promise only to have their future snuffed out; often due to bizarre circumstances. This includes Tiberius Claudius Drusus, the one-time heir to the Roman Empire, who died as a teenager as the result of trying to catch a tossed pear in his mouth.
Born around 9–12 AD, Drusus was the oldest son of Claudius, the Roman Emperor, who was bookended by more notorious Emperors Caligula and Nero. The boy had an unusual parental situation, as his mother Plautia Urgulnilla was divorced from the emperor when he was a young child because of her suspected adultery and possible role in the murder of her brother’s wife, who met an untimely end after being pushed out of a window. It wasn’t a run of the mill divorce either, as Claudius finalized the parting by ordering his former wife be thrown naked against her mother’s door.
Despite his mother’s murky reputation, Drusus maintained his role as the heir apparent given his being the first born. As he moved into his…
