 <unk> was not expected to become Emperor because his maternal uncle , <unk> , had begun his reign at the age of 24 with enough time to produce his own heir . <unk> 's mother , <unk> , lost favour with <unk> and was exiled in 39 after her husband 's death . <unk> seized <unk> 's inheritance and sent him to be brought up by his less wealthy aunt , <unk> <unk> , who was the mother of Valeria <unk> , Claudius 's third wife . <unk> , his wife <unk> and their infant daughter Julia <unk> were murdered on 24 January 41 . These events led Claudius , <unk> 's uncle , to become emperor . Claudius allowed <unk> to return from exile . 
