 Claudius was cremated , and his ashes were interred in the Mausoleum of Augustus on 24 October , 54 AD , ten days after his death . Despite the great political tumult Claudius ' passing caused , Nero and the Senate very quickly deified Claudius and Nero took the throne , just as Agrippina had wanted. at the young age of sixteen . The usurpation was politically easy for Nero ; Claudius ' will had specified that either Nero or Britannicus should take the throne following his death . Nero swiftly took firm control over an unsettled public ; all but Claudius ' most rigid and unmoving supporters became Nero 's men after only a short period . This can be at least partially attributed to Nero 's very well known opinions of Claudius , who was his adoptive father ; Nero often politically and publicly criticised and even insulted the late Claudius and many Claudian laws and policies were disregarded and abandoned under Nero 's reasoning that Claudius was simply too stupid and senile to be given any consideration . Nero responded to allegations of poisoned mushrooms being used to kill Claudius , by naming the fungus " the food of the gods " , lending further credence to the idea that mushrooms were used . 
