Life of Claudius Flashcards
Claudius would not have been attractive to the senate
no political or military experience
Effect of the freedmen
isolated him from the senate
reduced the authority of the senate by giving them so much influence
the senate would have felt that they should be influencing the emperor
political debate mmoved from senate to the court
certain judicial cases moved to his household
Senate still had roles
major governorships continued to be filled by senators
The equestrian role in government was enchanced
conquest of Britain offered
it was a conquest guaranteed to impress
Britain was still a mystery
imitation of Caesar (popular support, building projects in Ostia, invasion of Britain, born in Lugdunum Gaul)
claimants to thrones
he encouraged rivals
proceeded through diplomacy
only interveened when absolutely necessary
games
presided over them in person
Plebs
gave them money after his conquest of Britain
OStia
simplified the whole grain delivery operation, the grain was then taken up barges the Tiber. unloaded at Ostia rather than Campania
Claudius was personally involved in the construction project.
Claudius and his family
relied on his household for policy advice.
His real decisions were taken in private
Where was political power
in the ability to influence the emperor
Difference between Tiberius and Claudius with the senate
Tiberus brought problems to the senate and been open to persuasion
Claudius brought solutions to be discussed and ratified
To what did he owe his political power
loyalty of the army and his family
His treatment of Gaius’ assassins
they were popular in the senate
he nly punished some, only those who had conspired to kill other members of the Julio-Claudian family
Why were women important
did not have an adult male heir
marriage to a princess of the imperial house brought political influence
these husbands would be politically powerful and would be in a good position to challenge for the imperial position
- They had access to the emperor and could influence his decisions
- ## serious players of the political game
Messalina’s relation to Augustus
related twice through Octavia
Messalina’s power
she held a court seperate to that of Claudius
- Silanus
- Asiaticus
Claudius’ flight to the praetorian camp and hi execution of so many
this was a serious conspiracy, probably intended to remove Claudius
Silius’ marriage with MEssallina, implications
guardian of Claudius’ children
place him in a position to assume most of the powers of the emperor
he could not rally sufficient military support once Claudius reached the praetorian camp
Messalina’s death offered
a scapegoat who could be blamed for the deaths and the political failures
MArriage to Agrippina was good becasue
only surviving child of Germanicus and Agrippina
only surviving direct descendent of Augustus (other than her son)
Claudius was associating himself with Germanicus’ and his wife’s popularity
Why was his death convenient
the date when Britannicus would assume the toga virilis neared
a culture that valued bodily perfection
infirmities were taken as a sign of physical, mental and perhaps moral weakness
Claudius and the corn supply
an imperial procurator to oversee it
Four quaestor’s released from their archaic functions outsde of Rome
so they could spend money providing games in thte capital
FReedmen were useful
they knew how the imperial household worked
strengthened support in the army
soldiers were granted the privileges of married men
Exapnsion
only permitted where it strengthened Claudius
Corbulo was not allowed to pacify FRisia
Claudius had to win it in person
During the conuest of BRitain
Vitellius controlled Rome
anyone else who mattered accompanied Claudius to avoid any coup
Conquest of Britain allowed a special type of gift
symbolic extension of the city limits
Deaths that Messalina was eventually blamed for
ASiaticus
Pompeius, husband f Claudius’ daughter Antonia, who was also killed, together with his parents
Nero was singled out as the successor
became princeps iuventis
allowed to address the senate
