Claudius Flashcards
7 points on being manipulated by women and freemen
® All of Claudius’ actions “were dictated by his wives and freedmen” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® “he practically always obeyed their whims” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® “Claudius was unaware” of Messalina’s promiscuity [Cassius Dio, 60.18.1]
® Tacitus tells us of her supposed marriage ceremony with C. Silius and then rushing out to meet Claudius in a waste cart, which even Tacitus thinks is unlikely to have happened (his account is like fiction)
® There were many powerful and rich freedmen under Claudius [Pliny]
® Agrippina and Pallas convince Claudius to adopt Nero [Tacitus]
® Narcissus and Messalina made up a story saying they both dreamt Silanus would kill Claudius. [Dio]
2 points on cowardice
® (41) He was found hiding behind the curtains. [Suetonius, Gaius, 10]
® After Messalina and Silius’ marriage he runs to Praetorian Guard camp “‘Am I still emperor?” [Suetonius]
2 points on building administer
® About the Anio Novus: “there has been no more remarkable achievement in the whole world” [Pliny]
® Tries to ensure better grain supply with harbour at Ostia [Suetonius, Claudius]
power thanks to plebs 5 points
® Claudius behaved very informally at his ‘Picnics’ which was good for relations with plebs [Suetonius]
® When he comes to power he gave every solider 15,000 sesterces, making him the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” [Suetonius, Claudius]
® When a fire broke out in the Aemilian quarter he recruited firefighters by sitting with bags of gold and paying people. [Suetonius, Claudius, 18]
® After being attacked by a mob with stale crusts over grain shortage he does his imports grain, insuring merchants against losing ship, and bounty for every grain transport built [Suetonius]
® 42AD Scribionianus and Vinicianus (senatorial candidates for emperor when Gaius died) plot to overthrow Claudius but army puts them down.
unambitious personality 5 points
® “He abolished the charge of maiestas” [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 60.3.6]
® “sitting in court even on his own birthday” [Suetonius, Claudius, 14]
® “he wore a purple- bordered toga” like any other Senator. [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 6.9]
® Counter: “He immediately accepted all the honours voted to him except the title of ‘Father of the Fatherland’, which he takes on later. [Dio Cassius]
® Claudius was very deferential to the Senate which endeared him to the people [Suet, Claud]
honourable personality 3 points
® He gave immunity to those who’d sought democracy or has been candidates to be emperor [Dio]
® Didn’t let the day of Gaius’ murder be a public festival even though he ascended that day [Suetonius]
® Dio Cassius tells us of his “exemplary conduct”, including how well he handled financial matters by refusing gifts as Augustus and Gaius had and returning funds confiscated under Tiberius and Gaius (financial problems were used to denote a bad emperor)
example of largesse
® When he comes to power he gave every solider 15,000 sesterces, making him the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” [Suetonius, Claudius]
more stability
® The people were happy that Claudius was in power as they believed “the emperors acted as a curb for its rapacity and were a source of protection for themselves” [Josephus]
aid after disasters
® When a fire broke out in the Aemilian quarter, he recruited firefighters by sitting with bags of gold and paying people [Suetonius, Claudius, 18]
army needed
® Coin of Claudius and Praetorian Guard celebrates army giving him power [Josephus, Dio & Suetonius]
influenced by women
® Agrippina manipulated Claudius so that he named Nero his heir, not Britannicus. [Tacitus]
ease to ascend
® “He immediately accepted all the honours voted to him except the title of ‘Father of the Fatherland’, and that he took later on.” [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 60.3.2]
® He was found hiding behind the curtains. [Suetonius, Gaius, 10]
path of succession
® Claudius had been out of the limelight until elevated by the Praetorian Guard. [Suetonius]
how women ran the state 3 points
® All of Claudius’ actions “were dictated by his wives and freedmen” [Suetonius Claudius]
® Silanus was killed for refusing to have sex with Messalina [Cassius Dio, 60.14]
® Agripinna was behind Burrus’ appointment as Praetorian Guard prefect [Dio Cassius]
signifying succession 2 points
® “there is nothing she will not sacrifice to imperial ambition” [Tacitus, Annals, 12.65]
® Claudius used his daughter’s marriages to gain successors in the form of his sons-in-law, as shown by how Cassius Dio had them take part in the donation to the plebs.
relevance in imperial cult
® “made the Senate decree his grandmother Livia divine honours” [Suetonius, Claudius, 11]
® Claudius rejecting part of Alexandrians’ petition to worship him “temples and such forms of honour have been granted by all ages to the gods alone” [Greek Papyri in British Museum]
® “you are by nature reverent towards the emperors” [Greek Papyri in British Museum]
changes to who is in charge 3 points
® “he practically always obeyed their whims” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® He revised the senatorial roll & convinced the senate to make certain Gauls senators [Tacitus]
® Pallas, treasurer, mentioned by Pliny as one of the freedmen who became even richer than Crassus under Claudius. Narcissus is seen working with Messalina in Dio.
food supply 2 points
® “A starving population is intolerant of reason” [Seneca, On the Shortness of Life, 18.5]
® Built harbour at Ostia to secure food supply from Egypt. [Suetonius]
Building works 3 points
® Aqueduct of Gaius and Claudius (Anio Novus): “there has been no more remarkable achievement in the whole world” [Pliny, Natural History, 36.123]
® Augustus had turned down the request to drain the Fucine Lake and Julius Caesar had abandoned the Ostia project. [Suetonius, Claudius, 20]
® Built harbour at Ostia to secure food supply from Egypt. [Suetonius and the Inscription at Ostia]
senate is hostile towards him 2 points
® The Senate “thought that they would now be in control of government business” [Josephus]
® Claudius waited 30 days to see the Senate due to fearing them. [Dio Cassius]
emperors are hostile towards the senate 3 points
® Doesn’t really belong here: Created new patricians. [Tacitus, Annals of Rome, 11.25]
® Doesn’t really belong here: Added Gauls to the Senate. [Tacitus, Annals, 11.24]
® “He executed thirty-five senators and 300 Roman equites” [Suetonius, Claudius, 29]
emperors are nice to the senate 2 points
® “sitting in court even on his own birthday” [Suetonius, Claudius, 14]
® As censor, he allowed Senators to consider their position and renounce their senatorial rank instead of just expulsing them. [Tacitus, Annals of Rome, 11.25]
senate is nice to him
® “The senate was reduced to impotence” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 19.255]
he defended the people as tribune 2 points
® When a fire broke out he recruited firefighters by sitting with bags of gold and paying people [Suetonius, Claudius, 18] -> shows special care for plebs
® The people believed “the emperors acted as a curb for its rapacity and were a source of protection for themselves” [Josephus]
loyalty of army 5 points
® He was the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” [Suetonius, Gaius, 10]
® A republican government “would certainly not govern in the interests of the army” [Josephus]
® “persuaded the Senate to issue a decree forbidding soldiers to pay complimentary calls on senators” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® When he came to power he gave every solider 15,000 sesterces, making him the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” [Suetonius, Claudius]
® Coin of Claudius and Praetorian Guard celebrates army giving him power [Josephus, Dio & Suetonius]
relationship with praetorian guard 2 points
® He was found hiding behind the curtains. [Suetonius, Gaius, 10]
® Burrus was “fully aware whose initiative was behind his appointment” [Tacitus]
emperors lack of power 4 points
® The Senate “declared him a public enemy and appointed Galba emperor in his place” [Dio]
® After Gaius, several people were considered candidates as emperors by the Senate, including Camillus Scribonianus, who tried to get his troops to revolt. [Dio Cassius]
® The Senate “thought that they would now be in control of government business” [Josephus]
® After Messalina and Silius’ marriage he runs to Praetorian Guard camp “‘Am I still emperor?” which highlights that his power was not very secure. [Suetonius]
his death
® Agrippina may have been behind the death of Claudius in order to secure the principate for Nero [Suetonius, Tacitus and Cassius Dio all suggest she did it but Suetonius acknowledges there are other stories although he says he believes that she did it]
military success 4 points
® “Britain was the country where a real triumph could be most readily earned” [Suetonius, Claudius]
® Extended theePomerium in 49AD because due to having expanded the empire, he had the right to do so [Tacitus, Annals, 12.23]
® Claudius’ invasion of Britain wasn’t really needed and was “of no great importance” [Suetonius]
® The Senate “voted him the title Britannicus” [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 60.22.1]
moving power to himself
® Claudius moved lots of the functions of government into his house but “he seemed to be their servant rather than their emperor” [Suetonius, Claudius, 29]
control of provinces
® “you are by nature reverent towards the emperors” [Greek Papyri in British Museum]
® Claudius rejecting part of Alexandrians’ petition to worship him “temples and such forms of honour have been granted by all ages to the gods alone” [Greek Papyri in British Museum]
