The advantages of such a scheme were very obvious,--so obvious in fact that the design was formed by Agrippina at the very beginning,--even before her own marriage with the emperor was fully effected. There was one serious obstacle in the way, and that was that Octavia was already betrothed to a very distinguished young nobleman named Lucius Silanus. Agrippina, after having, by various skillful manoeuvers, succeeded in enlisting the public officers who would act as judges in his case, caused Silanus to be accused of infamous crimes. The historians say that the evidence which was adduced against him was of the most trivial character. Still he was condemned. He seems to have understood the nature and the cause of the hostility which had suddenly developed itself against him, and to have felt at once all the hopelessness of his condition. He killed himself in his despair on the very night of the marriage of Claudius with Agrippina. The empress found afterward no serious difficulty in accomplishing her design. She obtained the emperor's consent to a betrothal of Nero to Octavia; but as they were yet too young to be married, the ceremony was postponed for a short time. At length in about five years after the marriage of Agrippina herself, Nero and Octavia were married. Nero was at that time about sixteen years of age. His bride of course was only eleven. CHAPTER VI. NERO AN EMPEROR. A.D. 54 Claudius is sick.--Agrippina's joy.--Her schemes.--Estimation in which Nero was held.--Agrippina considers herself in danger.--Reasons for her fears.--Claudius and Britannicus.--She forms plans for hastening her husband's death.--Locusta.--Agrippina determines to consult her.--Locusta's poison is administered to Claudius.--The poison ineffectual.--A new plan.--The feather.--Poison administered by the physician.--Claudius dies.--Agrippina conceals her husband's death.--Agrippina's measures.--Her disimulation.--Agrippina's plans for proclaiming Nero.--Seneca and Burrus.--History of Seneca.--Account of Burrus.--His military rank.--The Prætorian cohorts.--Agrippina's plans.--Nero brought forward.--His promises to the army.--He is proclaimed.--General acquiescence in his elevation.--Agrippina's real designs in the elevation of her son.--The funeral solemnities.--Nero's oration.--The panegyric.--The senate is convened.--Nero's inaugural address.--Nero's excellent promises.--Satisfaction of the Senate.--Agrippina assumes the real power.--Discontent of the ministers.--An incident.--Reception of Agrippina in the hall of audience. About one year after Nero's marriage to Octavia the emperor Claudius was suddenly taken sick. On learning this, Agrippina was very much excited and very much pleased. If the sickness should result in the emperor's death, her son she thought would immediately succeed him. Every thing had been long since fully arranged for such a result, and all was now ready, she imagined, for the change.