The Roman Series: Roman Emperor Claudius
On 1 August 10 BC Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born
at Lugdunum (nowadays Lyon in France).
own picture of Claudius
Taken at the Vatican Museums in 2017
Family
Claudius was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia.
His maternal grandparents were Mark Antony and Octavia Minor,
Augustus' sister. Claudius was thus the great-great grand nephew
of Tiberius Claudius Nero.
Augustus' sister. Claudius was thus the great-great grand nephew
of Tiberius Claudius Nero.
Claudius had two older siblings Germanicus and Livia. His mother
had two other children who died young.
had two other children who died young.
Youth
In 9 BC , Claudius' father Drusus unexpectedly died on campaign in
Germania, possibly from illness. He was then left to be raised by his
mother, who never remarried.
Germania, possibly from illness. He was then left to be raised by his
mother, who never remarried.
In 7 AD, Livy was hired as tutor of Claudius. He also took lessons
from the philosopher Athenodorus.
from the philosopher Athenodorus.
The guards proclaimed Claudius Emperor
Source picture: Wikipedia
Raise to power
When Augustus died in AD 14,Claudius was 23 years old. He appealed
to his uncle Tiberius, to allow him to begin the curus honorum.
to his uncle Tiberius, to allow him to begin the curus honorum.
Tiberius, then the new Emperor, granted Claudius consular ornaments.
However Claudius gave up hope of public office and retired to a
scholary, private life.
However Claudius gave up hope of public office and retired to a
scholary, private life.
After the death of Tiberius' son Drusus, Claudius was pushed by
some quarters as a potential heir. After the death of Tiberius, Caligula,
some quarters as a potential heir. After the death of Tiberius, Caligula,
the son of Claudius' brother Germanicus became Emperor. He appointed
Claudius his co-consul in 37. However this wasn't the easiest time for
Claudius due to the character of Caligula. By the end of Caligula's reign,
Claudius had become thin and sickly mostly due to stress.
Claudius his co-consul in 37. However this wasn't the easiest time for
Claudius due to the character of Caligula. By the end of Caligula's reign,
Claudius had become thin and sickly mostly due to stress.
On 24 January 41, Caligula was assassinated in the Praetorian Guard. There
was no evidence that Claudius had a direct hand in the assassination.
was no evidence that Claudius had a direct hand in the assassination.
After the murder, Claudius witnessed the German guard cut down several
uninvolved noblemen including many of his friends. He fled to the palace
to hide.
uninvolved noblemen including many of his friends. He fled to the palace
to hide.
Claudius then took some steps to legitimize his rule against potential
usurpers. He adopted the name Caesar, a name with great weight.
usurpers. He adopted the name Caesar, a name with great weight.
Claudius was the grandson of Augustus' sister Octavia and he also
adopted the name Augustus.
adopted the name Augustus.
Claudius was not appointed Emperor by the Senate but by the guard of
Rome. He remained grateful to them.
Rome. He remained grateful to them.
Circus Maximus - Rome - own picture taken in 2017
Duty
Under Claudius the Empire had major expansions. Several provinces
were annexed or put under direct rule. The most far-reaching conquest
was that of Britannia.
were annexed or put under direct rule. The most far-reaching conquest
was that of Britannia.
Claudius judged many of the legal cases during his reign. Some of them
were variable and sometimes he did not follow the law. Nevertheless
he paid attention to the operation of the judicial system.
were variable and sometimes he did not follow the law. Nevertheless
he paid attention to the operation of the judicial system.
Claudius also embarked many public works during his reign, both in the
capital as in the provinces. He built two aqueducts, the Aqua Claudia
(started under Caligula) and the Anio Novus. He paid attention to
transportation. He built roads and canals.
capital as in the provinces. He built two aqueducts, the Aqua Claudia
(started under Caligula) and the Anio Novus. He paid attention to
transportation. He built roads and canals.
Claudius set about remodelling the Senate into a more efficient body.
Nevertheless many in the Senate remained hostile to Claudius, and
many plots were made on his life. As a result Claudius reduced the
Senate's power for the sake of efficiency.
Nevertheless many in the Senate remained hostile to Claudius, and
many plots were made on his life. As a result Claudius reduced the
Senate's power for the sake of efficiency.
Claudius was very fond of games. Annual games were held in
honour of his accession. They took place at the Praetorian camp where
Claudius was proclaimed Emperor.
honour of his accession. They took place at the Praetorian camp where
Claudius was proclaimed Emperor.
Claudius also restored many public venues in Rome. At the Circus
Maximus, the turning pots and the starting stalls were replaced in marble,
embellished, and an embankment was probably added to prevent
flooding of the track.
Maximus, the turning pots and the starting stalls were replaced in marble,
embellished, and an embankment was probably added to prevent
flooding of the track.
Love and Marriage
Ancient authors accused Claudius of being dominated by women and wives.
He also would have been a womanizer. After two failed betrothals,
Claudius married four times.
He also would have been a womanizer. After two failed betrothals,
Claudius married four times.
First Marriage
Claudius married to Plautia Urgulanilla. She was the granddaughter of
Livia's confidant Urgulania. During their marriage she gave birth to a son,
Claudius Drusus. In his early teens Drusus died. Later Claudius divorced
Urgulanilla for adultery and on suspicion of murdering her sister-in-law,
Apronia.
Livia's confidant Urgulania. During their marriage she gave birth to a son,
Claudius Drusus. In his early teens Drusus died. Later Claudius divorced
Urgulanilla for adultery and on suspicion of murdering her sister-in-law,
Apronia.
Second Marriage
Possibly in 28, Claudius married Aelia Paetina, a relative of Sejanus.
This marriage produced a daughter Claudia Antonia. He later divorced.
Messalina - Source picture: Wikipedia
Third Marriage
In 38 or early 39, Claudius married Valeria Messalina, his cousin and
closely allied with Caligula's circle. She gave birth to a daughter called
Claudia Octavia.
closely allied with Caligula's circle. She gave birth to a daughter called
Claudia Octavia.
The marriage ended in a tragedy. Messalina would have been nymphomaniac
and she was regularly unfaithful to Claudius. In 48 Messalina married
her lover Gaius Silius.
and she was regularly unfaithful to Claudius. In 48 Messalina married
her lover Gaius Silius.
Fourth Marriage
Claudius married once more to Agrippina the Younger. She was one of the
few remaining descendants of Augustus. Her son Lucius Domitius was one
of the last males of the Imperial Family. They could attempt a coup.
few remaining descendants of Augustus. Her son Lucius Domitius was one
of the last males of the Imperial Family. They could attempt a coup.
Source picture: Wikipedia
Death
Claudius died in the early hours of 13 October 54. He was probably murdered
by poison - perhaps in a mushroom or on a feather.
by poison - perhaps in a mushroom or on a feather.
All thought that Agrippina, his powerful wife, was the instigator. Other
historians doubted about this. Claudius could have died due to illness or his
old age.
historians doubted about this. Claudius could have died due to illness or his
old age.
Claudius was buried at the Mausoleum of Augustus on 24 October 54. He was
succeeded by Nero ....
succeeded by Nero ....
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