Claudius' Wives and Freedmen: Trouble in the Imperial Court

Question 1

Despite Claudius’ seemingly stable and prosperous reign, problems within the Imperial Court ultimately defined his rule. Give a quote from Suetonius that supports this

Answer 1

• “One might say that everything Claudius did throughout his reign was dictated by his wives and freedmen: he practically always obeyed their whims rather than his own judgement”

Question 2

Who were Claudius’ two wives while he was emperor? Describe them. What children did they have?

Answer 2

• Messalina - related to Augustus on both sides of her family - her marriage to Claudius had been arranged during Caligula’s reign - had Brittanicus and Octavia
• Agrippina the Younger - Sister to Caligula and Claudius’ niece - had Nero from a previous marriage

Question 3

Who were Claudius’ 3 main freedmen who wielded considerable influence and effectively acted as advisors? What were they in charge of?

Answer 3

• Callistus - in charge of imperial petitions
• Narcissus - chief secretary in charge of imperial correspondences
• Pallas - imperial treasurer and chief accountant

Question 4

Was Messalina and Claudius’ marriage one of love? Explain

Answer 4

• No - she was 14 and he was over 30 years older which let’s face it, is wretch inducing - it was obviously a political alliance

Question 5

How do the sources depict Messalina? (2)?

Answer 5

• Sexually promiscuous

- Fiercely ambitious and jealous of anyone who opposed her

Question 6

According to Cassius Dio, what ‘crimes’ were committed by Messalina and the freedmen? (5. - 1 of which is a quote)

Answer 6

• Silanus refused to sleep with Messalina so she convinced Claudius to execute him (Narcissus pretended to have a dream where Silanus killed Claudius)
• Messalina committed adultery in the palace and killed anyone who would tell, including a prefect of the Praetorian Guard
• “As for those who did not comply with her requests, she bore a grudge against them for this and brought about their destruction in all sorts of ways”
• They would sell citizenship, military commands, procuratorships and provincial governorships
• They would allow people to be spared if they promised favours or bribes

Question 7

According to Suetonius, what ‘crimes’ were committed by Messalina and the freedmen? (4 (3 of them quotes))

Answer 7

• Suggest that the 35 senators and 300 equestrians killed by Claudius were due to the manipulation of Messalina and the freedmen
• “He distributed public offices, army commands, pardons and punishments according to their wishes”
• Executed Silanus and the two Julias “all on uncertain charges”
• The freedmen were able to acquire “such riches by legitimate and illegitimate means”

Question 8

Give two quotes from Cassius Dio about the influence of Messalina and the freedmen

Answer 8

• “Whenever they wanted someone put to death, they would terrify Claudius into letting them do whatever they wanted”
• “The imperial freedmen and Messalina were responsible”

Question 9

Give a quote from Suetonius that shows Messalina and the freedmen’s influence over Claudius

Answer 9

• “Claudius fell so deeply under the influence of these freedmen and wives that he seemed to be their servant rather than their emperor”

Question 10

According to Suetonius, what was Felix (one of Claudius’ freedmen) allowed to do that was against the laws of being a freedman? How would the senate have felt about this?

Answer 10

• He was allowed to “marry three princesses” along with having command of infantry cohorts and becoming the governor of Judaea
• The patricians would have been shocked

Question 11

Who were Claudius’ favourite freedmen according to Suetonius? Quote? What did he give them?

Answer 11

• “his firmest devotion was for Narcissus, his secretary, and Pallas, his bookkeeper”
• They were given the insignias of quaestors and praetors, both senatorial positions

Question 12

List the events that led to Messalina’s downfall (5)

Answer 12

• Became infatuated with Caius Silius
• When Claudius was away they ‘married’ in a witnessed ceremony and Tacitus tells us they were plotting to kill Claudius so Silius could take over
• The freedmen told Claudius
• Narcissus secured the praetorian guard and then Claudius marched in and arrested them
• Messalina and Silius were put to death (although Tacitus tells us that Claudius was reluctant, despite Messalina’s long list of crimes

Question 13

According to Tacitus, what was the reaction of the imperial family to Messalina’s death?

Answer 13

• it “shook the imperial household”

Question 14

What does Tacitus tell us of how Agrippina secured marriage to Claudius? (2)

Answer 14

• She bribed the freedmen, seducing Pallas (so they would convince Claudius)
• She would ‘visit’ Claudius frequently

Question 15

Why did the law have to be changed for Agrippina and Claudius to marry? What did Claudius do?

Answer 15

• They were uncle and niece (big ew)

- He pressured the Senate to change the law

Question 16

According to Tacitus, how did Agrippina interfere with the line of succession? Why would this be easy to sell? (Quote)

Answer 16

• She used the influence she held with Pallas to convince Claudius to adopt Nero
• “Claudius also would do well to strengthen himself with a young prince who could share his cares with him” - both Augustus and Tiberius had adopted/promoted alternative successors rather than their own heirs

Question 17

According to Tacitus, what steps did Agrippina take to ensure that Nero became Claudius’ heir? (2 quotes)

Answer 17

• Nero was adopted into the Claudian family and was “prematurely invested with the dress of manhood” while Britannicus wore the dress of boyhood
• Circus games were celebrated “to win him popular favour”

Question 18

According to Tacitus, why did dressing Nero as a man and Britannicus as a boy help to ensure that Nero became Claudius’ heir? (2 quotes)

Answer 18

• So he “might be thought qualified for political life”

- “The people would accordingly anticipate their respective destinies”

Question 19

According to Tacitus, in what way was Britannicus pushed to the side? (2 Quotes)

Answer 19

• “those of the centurions and tribune who pitied the lot of Britannicus were removed”
• Claudius “punished with banishment or death all his son’s best instructors, and set persons appointed by his stepmother to have the care of him”

Question 20

What does Tacitus say about Agrippina’s control? (Quote)

Answer 20

• She controlled Rome with “an almost masculine dominance”

Question 21

What does Tacitus say was Agrippina’s motive for killing Claudius?

Answer 21

• Narcissus had sentenced Agrippina to death for her lack of keeping the peace in Italy by not keeping control of her slave troops, and he suspected her of attempting to take Claudius’ life so Nero would succeed him, as this would grant her more power

Question 22

What does Tacitus say Agrippina proved through her seduction of Pallas?

Answer 22

• That she “held honour, modesty and her very person, everything in short, cheaper than sovereignty”

Question 23

What does Suetonius say were Agrippina’s motives for killing Claudius?

Answer 23

• Claudius had secretly begun to regret marrying Agrippina and making Nero his heir, admitting as much to his freedmen and showing great affection to Britannicus, telling him to “grow up quickly my boy, and then I will explain what my policy has been” - he quoted the Greek saying “the hand that wounded shall also heal”

Question 24

According to Tacitus, what was Agrippina’s dilemma when choosing a poison with which to assassinate Claudius?

Answer 24

• If she chose a quick poison “the deed would be betrayed”, but if she chose a slow one, Claudius might figure out what was happening and “return to his love for his son”

Question 25

According to Tacitus, how did Agrippina assassinate Claudius? Who helped her? What poison did she use? How was it administered? What went wrong? How did she combat this?

Answer 25

• She enlisted the help of Locusta, who had been condemned for poisoning
• She chose a poison that “might derange his mind and delay death”
• It was to be administered by a eunach called Halotus
• The poison was infused into some mushrooms
• Claudius became lethargic and intoxicated - “his bowels too were relieved and this seemed to have saved him”
• Agrippina then got the physician Xenophon to pretend to help Claudius throw up and tickle his throat with a feather smeared with “rapid poison”