Y12 Ancient History Roman/Julio-Claudian Points Test 11 Claudius FP and Britain

Question 1

1. What was Claudius’ general foreign policy principles? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 1

• Claudius’ foreign policy tended to follow that of Julius Caesar rather than of Augustus – expansion and assimilation.
• His reign was one of military achievements, since he desired to be known as ‘extender of the empire’.
• He extended the frontiers if he thought it appropriate, and believed that direct Roman rule was preferable to client-kingdoms – he added five provinces.
• Like Julius Caesar, he was interested in raising the status of the provincials by encouraging Romanisation and extended Roman citizenship or Latin rights to both individuals and groups.
• He was responsible for founding many colonies, was always interested in good provincial administration and made it possible for more provincials to enter the senate.

Question 2

2. What was Claudius’ policy with regards to the Rhine Frontier and Gaul? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 2

• Although Claudius did not basically change Tiberius’ policy towards the Rhine and Germany, he did extend the Frontier to the mouth of the Rhine; Corbulo carried this out for him.
• He believed that Gaul would never be completely realised while Britain remained independent, and this was one of his reasons for its annexation.
• Apart from establishing colonies at Triers and Cologne, he granted Roman and Latin citizenship to many Gallic tribes.

Question 3

3. What was Claudius’ policy with regards to North Africa? (any relevant point for 2 marks).

Answer 3

• At the beginning of his reign Claudius had to deal with the rebellion in Mauretania, a legacy of Gaius.
• He annexed it and divided it into two provinces, Tingitania and Caesariensis.
• He attempts to curb anti-Semitism of the Greeks in Alexandria and to insist that Jews refrain from making demands for local citizenship.

Question 4

4. What was Claudius’ policy with regards to South-east Europe, the Danube and the East? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 4

• Claudius returned control of Achaea and Macedonia once more to the senate, while Noricum, on the northern Danube Frontier, was governed by an equestrian procurator.
• In the east Claudius not only annexed and organised new provinces (Lycia 43AD, Thrace 46AD), he reversed Gaius’ arrangements for Judaea (44), returned Commagene to its former ruler, enlarged Syria with the addition of Ituraea and spread Roman influence around the Black Sea.
• Gaius’ weak policy towards Parthia had been very damaging, and Claudius strengthened Armenia after 49 when a Roman nominee, Mithridates, was placed on the throne.
• He also promoted internal strife in Parthia in order to keep them occupied.

Question 5

5. What were the origins of Claudius’ campaign in Britain? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 5

• The campaign against Britain in 43AD is inextricably linked with the events of the preceding years, in particular the revolt of Camillus Scribonianus.
• Following the execution of Gaius Appius Silanus (Dio 60.14.1-16.4; Suetonius Claudius 13), who was accused of plotting Claudius’ death and executed on spurious evidence, Camillus was encouraged by Vinicianus to turn his troops against Claudius.
• The revolt was short-lived, lasting no more than five days, as Camillus could not convince sufficient forces to support his cause.
• Dio states that his soldiers ‘refused to listen to him any longer’ (60.15.3). Camillus’ suicide after his failure was hastily followed by his denouncement as a public enemy.
• When Scribonius revolted in Dalmatia, his legions VII and XI, refused their support to his revolted.
• Such loyalty was something to consolidate: conquests would raise the morale of the entire army, even of the legions whotook part, if booty were to be had.
• While the revolt was fruitless, it nevertheless reduced Claudius to a state of great terror.
• His immediate response was to bestow the titles ‘Claudian’, ‘loyal’ and ‘patriotic’ on the seventh and eleventh legions, which had remained faithful to him.
• But he needed the loyalty of the army as a whole, and thus sought a quick campaign that would give the army both plunder and glory.
• In truth there had not been a significant campaign for many years, not since that of Drusus, Claudius’ father, in Germany in 12-9BC, the continued significance of which may be seen in the Claudian coinage commemorating those victories (where Claudius stressed his connection with his father Drusus’s success in Germany as a means of ensuring the loyalty of his troops).
• Claudius and his advisors must have decided to invade Britain by the end of 42.
• It was the obvious place for the acquisition of real military glory.
• Cunobelin, the British Prince in the SE of Britain, had been friendly to Rome and returned shipwrecked sailors and offerings on the Capitol, whereas his sons were not.

Question 6

6. What were the main events of Claudius’ campaign in Britain prior to Claudius arriving? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 6

• Not all the sources praise the campaign: Suetonius describes it as ‘of no great importance’ (Claudius, 17).
• However, the preparations were meticulous and 4 legions set out under the command of Aulus Plautius in the summer of 43AD.
• The campaign was primarily directed against the anti-Roman Catavellauni, who were expanding their territory and influence under the rule of two sons of the recently deceased Conobelinus, Togidumnus and Caractacus.
• The actions of the Catavellauni, while no real threat to Roman interests, were nevertheless a useful justification for the campaign.
• Plautius advanced to the river medway, ably assisted by Flavius Vespasianus (the future emperor), commander of the 2nd legion Augusta.
• Following a decisive roman victory here, the British tribes withdrew to the Thames where, even with Togidumnus dead, they rallied, preventing Plautius from crossing the river.
• The Roman commander chose to consolidate his position and sent for Claudius himself for the final stages of the campaign.

Question 7

7. What were the main events of Claudius’ campaign in Britain once Claudius arrived in Britain? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 7

• Claudius’ crossing to Britain was swiftly achieved, although Suetonius (Claudius 17) suggests that he was nearly wreaked twice en route to Massilia.
• However, Dio makes no mention of these hardships, which suggests that Suetonius may have included the allegation because it fits with his overall presentation of Claudius as a bumbling incompetent.
• In Britain, Claudius took command of the legions, crossed the Thames, defeated the enemy and captured Camulodunum (modern Colchester), which had served as Cunobelinus’ capital.
• Although Dio highlights the campaign’s speed and efficiency, we must question the degree of opposition which the British tribes could have offered against a Roman force now approaching 40-80,000 men.
• At least 50,000 troops crossed the channel in 43AD, and Claudius followed with reinforcements.

Question 8

8. What were the main consequences of Claudius’ campaign in Britain? (any relevant point for 3 marks).

Answer 8

• There were many reasons why Claudius wanted to annex Britain, but the most crucial was his belief that a successful conquest would strengthen his regime and increase his popularity.
• He had read the roman people accurately.
• Caractacus was captured but spared by Claudius, and by 54AD most of England was under Roman control.
• Although the city of Camulodunum became the centre of Caesar-worship, it was the growing port city of Londinium which became the headquarters of the imperial governor.
• These commemorated the invasion and his triumphal Arch (itself not completed until 51AD).
• Similarly, Claudius in 49 took advantage of an archaic ceremony, last used by Augustus, that the extension of the empire should be mirrored by extending the pomerium. Its commemorative description extols his official titles and the benefit his campaign brought Rome.
• Finally in 50AD, after a series of further battles, Caractacus was captured and taken to Rome as a prisoner.
• Thus the invasion had achieved perhaps even more that Claudius had hoped: a solid military campaign, carried out efficiently, resulting in opportunities for political praise.
• Suetonius’ lukewarm assessment of the campaign is, therefore, curious, but can be understood if we consider that even the success of this campaign could not overshadow the perceived shortcomings in Claudius’ reign.