Claudius Flashcards
Who was Claudius to Caligula?
Uncle of Caligula
Why did Claudius not want to be involved with public life of imperial family?
Due to disabilites
What disabilities did Claudius have?
- lisp
- limp
- stutter
During Tiberius’s reign where did Claudius retire to?
Campania
What did Claudius do in Campania?
gamble and drink
What was Claudius’ role during the reign of Caligula?
Became consul, shared consularship with Caligula
What was Claudius’ Physical Appearance According to Seuteonius?
“His appearance was not lacking in authority and dignity when he was standing, sitting and
particularly when he was laying down, for his frame was tall and not thin, his face was
handsome, as was his white hair, and he had a full neck. However, when he started to
walk his rather feeble knees would fail him and he had numerous undignified
characteristics, both when he was relaxing and when he was engaged in business. His
laughter was unbecoming, while his anger was a worse source of embarrassment, for he
would foam at the mouth and his nose would run. Besides this, he had a speech
impediment and his head twitched all the time, but especially when he made even the
slightest movement. Just as his health had once been very poor, it was excellent when he
was emperor, with the exception of a stomach complaint. When he suffered from that, he
said, he had even considered ending his own life.”
- Claudius looked fine but in his behaviour he was slightly off, yet his
health was perfect when he was emperor - He may have misrepresented his condition prior to becoming emperor as when he
ascended the throne he was “suddenly fine”
What were the Claudian letters?
Claudius was quite eccentric as seen through his introduction of three new letters:
○ Ⅎ - digamma: consonantal v (w)
○ – Antisigma: replaces ps and bs
○ Ⱶ - sonus medius, between u and i
Who was the heir after Caligula was killed?
- Praetorian guard believed there should be an emperor
- They rushed into the imperial palace and found Claudius hiding behind a
tapestry/curtain
forced him into role of emperor
Early in Claudius’ reign how did he react to Caligula’s legacy?
Rescinded Caligula’s absurd legislation
Did not celebrate Caligula’s death and mourned him privately
Did not condemn his memory in public
What was one of the ways Claudius tried to remind ppl of his connection to the good parts of the imperial family?
- Striking coins that reminded them of his great ancestors
- also struck coins with his own image on them with idealized appearance
on back of coin stated “On account of citizens having been saved”
- rep. Claudius taking over from Caligula, ppl being set free from his tyrannical reign
Why was inscribing coins popular?
Something done after an unpopular emperor died in order to signal the beginning of a new and improved age of the people
to legitimize themselves
What is one of the most important ways an emperor can legitimize themselves?
Military experience and success
What were Claudius’ major military successes?
Annexation of Mauritania (North Africa)
Complete invasion and conquest of Britain
Annexation of Lycia and Thrace
Managed these conquests through agents and generals
What did Claudius accomplish in terms of public infrastructure?
- built Aqua Claudia (began by Caligula, finished by Claudius)
- Aqueducts - brought water to Rome
- Monument: Porta Maggiore
- attempted to drain Fucine Lake (fail)
- Port at Ostia (Portus Augusti) : artificial harbour, built bc Ostia was insufficient in bringing supplies (esp. grains) to city of rome, also built to prevent flooding
