Hey. here are all my notes on Claudius.... I hope they help u. Some came from BOS, and others were from stuff we did in class.
Succession:
- After the death of Gaius, the Senators deliberated over who should succeed him. The Praetorian Guard thus pronounced Claudius emperor.
o ‘Whilst the senate deliberated, the Praetorians resolved.’ (Gibbons)
o “Discovered by chance trembling in a corner of the palace, he was dragged half dead from fear to the castra praetoria, where he expected to be killed and received instead the purple’ (Garzetti)
o ‘The senate thereupon tamely conferred imperial powers upon Claudius.’ (Salmon)
- He adopted the name Caesar. This was popular with the people and the provincials, but not the senate. He declared that he would model himself on Augustus, and paid the Praetorians to show their support.
o “On his accession he took pains to identify himself with the Julian house.” (Salmon.)
o “Claudius was not by birth a member of the Augustan house, but a Claudian, and unlike Tiberius he had not even been adopted into the Julian house” (Grant.)
Background:
- Claudius was not well spoken. He limped and dribbled, and was thus treated as an imbecile and hated by his family.
- Until AD 41:
o Claudius had been fairly prominent in the Equestrian order.
o Had occasionally presided at the games.
o Under Augustus he had been an augur.
o He wrote many books on Roman history.
§ “Proud of his country’s past, Claudius wanted to rule well, and in many respects he achieved his desire.” (Scullard.)
o He had great administrative skill.
- “Claudius’ life up until 41AD, although lacking in administrative experience, had not been so obscure as is usually believed.” (Salmon.)
The army:
- Claudius was grateful to the Praetorian Guard, as they had proclaimed him emperor. He maintained their support through donations, and he advertised them on his coins.
- He was very fair, and executed two members of the guard who had killed Gaius, Sabinius and Charea.
- His lack of military experience was a problem to him.
o “a shortcoming that might otherwise ultimately diminish his popularity within the army” (Momigliano)
- He cultivated his soldiers through:
o Coins, statues, buildings and all public occasions.
o He wore an imperial military cloak at the draining of the Fucine lake.
o He rewarded them with titles and grants of citizenship, and began the practise of awarding ceremonies for the honourable discharge of soldiers.
§ ‘Claudius always carefully cultivated the troops. The praetorians received an annual donative, the other soldiers were given opportunity for booty, and various honours were showered upon different army units.’ (Salmon)
- In 42, Claudius gave soldiers the privileges of married men.
- Capable generals were selected. Galba, Corbulo, Vespasian and Paulinus.
- Claudius initially had no personal relationship with the troops, so he decided to stage a major military advancement, leading the troops into Britain.
o ‘what he proposed was a major military aggression in the spirit of his brother Germanicus. ’ (Grant)
o ‘his own position was certainly strengthened by the successful enterprise, and the impression left by the conquest and triumph is widely reflected in literature, inscriptions and coins’ (Garzetti.)
Military reform:
- Claudius subtly broke the link between the army and the senate.
o ‘It was possible for a man to go through the required cursus honorum without going near the army’ (Momigliano)
o ‘These reforms had the general effect of decreasing senatorial influence in the army’ (Momigliano)
- He recruited the provincials into the legions as auxiliary troops.
Foreign policy:
- Introduced the policy of expansion and assimilation.
- He ordered his generals to quash the rebellion in Mauretania, and in 44AD it was separated into two segments.
- Britain:
o Britain was conquered as part of a civilising movement to stop Druidism. Economic motives were also a significant factor, and Claudius needed military glory.
o Britain thus became a province of Rome in 43AD.
o Claudius only took part for 16 days.
§ ‘clever enough to be present at the decisive phase of the struggle and so could claim for himself the ensuing credit’ (Momigliano)
o The conquests of Mauretania and Britain where vital for Claudius’ military glory.
§ ‘With the two conquests of Mauretania and Britian the greatest imperial success since the time of Augustus, Claudius could claim to have solidly established his prestige with the army.’(Momigliano)
Policy in the east:
- There were many problems here, most of which had been caused by Gaius.
- He organised new provinces, such as Lycia in 43, Thrace in 46, and Judea in 44 after the death of Herod.
- Syria was enlarged, and Iturea was added to it in 49AD.
- The Roman influence was spread around the Black Sea, and to Palmyra.
Parthia and Armenia:
- Gaius had a weak policy towards Parthia, and it was damaging.
- Claudius strengthned Armenia in 49AD when Mithridates was placed on the throne.
- He also prompted internal strife in Parthia to keep the Parthians occupied.
o ‘Towards Parthia Claudius showed a firmer hand than Gaius had done and managed to gain some control over Armenia owing to the dynastic dissensions’ (Scullard)
Germany and the Rhine:
- There was no basic change in the policy of Tiberius.
- Frontier was strengthened bu the extension of Roman control to the moth of the Rhine.
Attitude to titles and honours:
- Prohibited the worship of himself in temples and provinces, but was forced to allow it in the provinces eventually.
- Never took the title imperator, although he was hailed 27 times.
o ‘He did not take the title imperator to avoid emphasising the military narture of his power, though in reality he was particularly attatched to it’ (Garzetti)
o “Claudius did not presume to accept excessive honours.” (Suetonius.)
- The birthdays in his family were celebrated privately.
- He rose with the audience at games and shows.
- He respected the senate, asking their permission before recalling exiles from banishment or holding affairs on his estate, or to grant him special privileges.
The senate:
- He generally respected them.
o ‘To win over the nobility he displayed an exaggerated respect towards the senate’ (Salmon)
- At the beginning of his principate he respected the senate, and tried to increase their authority.
- He restored the elections of magistrates to the senate, and held banquets for senators and their wives, visited sick senators, granted consulships to men of distinction, and gave them the best seats at the circus.
- He held the consulship only five times.
- He attending the senatorial meetings and insisted on attendance.
- The provinces were equally shared between himself and the senate.
o ‘Claudius reacted sharply from Gaius’ autocracy and sincerely tried to cooperate with the senate on Augustan lines’ (Scullard)
- Claudius adopted the position of censor in 47/48.
- He expelled members of the senate, and added others, in an attempt to improve efficiency. The senate didn’t like this.
- He tried to expel all the “yes men” who were making the senate ineffective.
o ‘This denunciation of yesmen reveals the increasing inadequacy of the Senate, and it was this, not a desire to humiliate it, that led Claudius to encroach on its activities in many ways’ (Scullard)
- The treasury was basically under Claudius’ control; he chose quaestors to administer it.
- In 53, the jurisdiction of financial cases in the provinces was transferred to Claudius’ Legatii. The provincial treasuries were thus free from Senatorial influence.
- Imperial officials now looked after the roads.
- Ostia was given an imperial procurator to administer it.
- Claudius nominated the governor to a senatorial province.
- He took a personal interest in the law, and the cases being heard.
- He spent a lot of time in law courts hearing cases. The senate previously did this.
- He expanded his own court so that the senate could not be forced to condemn its own members.
- Claudius allegedly executed 35 senators and 300 equites during his reign.
o ‘A similar desire for efficiency is shown in Claudius’ judicial administration’ (Scullard)
Freedmen:
- The rising prominence of freedmen was causing antagonism in the senate.
- Men such as Pallas, narcissus and Callistus became significantly important.
- Narcissus:
o Secretary general.
o Handled the correspondence between the emperor and Roman officials throughout the empire.
- Pallas:
o “Virtually controlled the empire.” (Tacitus.)
o Was the head of the financial department.
- Callistus:
o Was a legal secretary.
o He was required to deal with legal enquiries and paper work.
- Polybius:
o The librarian.
o Provided material for speeches, and was the literary advisor.
- The freedmen had influence in judicial appointments.
- They interfered with the succession, Pallas because he was Agrippina’s lover, and Narcissus and Callistus because they feared retribution from Britannicus.
o “His predecessors employment of Greek, freedmen as advisors, and imperial secretaries was continued…Narcissus and Pallas rose to great power” (Grant)
His wives:
- Messalina destroyed rivals and screened the emperor.
- Agrippina was recognised with a throne next to Claudius. Her friends were assigned to high positions.
o “Complete obedience was accorded to a woman.” (Tacitus.)
o “Claudius fell so deeply under the influence of these freedmen and wives that he seemed to be their servant rather than their emperor, and distributed titles, army commands, indulgences or punishments according to their wishes…” (Suetonius.)
Centralised bureaucracy:
- Was very efficient in his civil service.
- The senate were becoming more dependent on Claudius, and he was becoming more and more independent of them.
o ‘He took measures which strengthened the powers of the princeps at the expense of the senate, and accelerated the trend towards a centralised bureaucracy, but he did not openly avow that this was his intention’ (Salmon)
o ‘Thus in the interest of more efficicent administration Claudius unwittingly sowed the seed from which was to spring that gigantic bureaucratic machine’ (Scullard)
Provinces:
- Claudius narrowed the gap between Italy and the provinces.
o ‘Just as Augustus narrowed the gap between Rome and Italy, so Claudius narrowed the gap between Italy and the provinces’ (Salmon)
- He followed the example of Julius Caesar, wanting to achieve uniformity across the empire.
o ‘Achieve uniformity and equal status for the provinces and to do away with their inferiority in Italy’ (Momigliano)
- He established about 21 colonies, in an attempt to further Romanisation. Generous grants of citizenship were given.
o ‘He made up his mind, you know, to see the whole world in a toga.” (Seneca.)
- He encouraged the provincials to stand for office, and included some worthy provincials in the senate.
o He added many worthy men from the provinces, which the senators didn’t like. His argument was ‘senators, however ancient any institution seems, once upon a time it was new’ (Tacitus)
Civil administration:
- Had sound political judgement, and the capacity for serious and sustained work. He was a sound administrator.
Judicial:
- He had a great interest in judicial matters.
- Many legal abuses were removed, and business was sped up.
- He created legislation regarding:
o Unruly behaviour in the theatre.
o Harsher treatment of debtors.
o Purchase and demolition of buildings for profit.
o Disclaiming of sick slaves by masters.
o Loans being made to a son in expectation of a fathers death.
§ ‘Scrupulous concern for justice inspired right from the start his passion for law and the law courts but as with Tiberius this was the most risky of his activity’ (Garzetti)
Works:
- Claudius wanted things to run smoothly.
- In 42AD he began a new port at Ostia to increase the efficiency of the trade network, particularly grain.
- Many roads were built in Italy.
- The Aqua Claudia and the Anio Novus were also built.
- An underground outlet was built from the Fcine lake.
- Agricultural land was reclaimed, and 30 000 men were employed.
- Ships were insured against damages to secure the food supply.
Finances:
- Greater concentration of funds was put in the hands of the emperor.
- Pallas closely supervised the imperial treasury.
- In 44AD two quaestors look after the treasury.
- Procurators were created to look after the emperor’s personal estates and revenue.
Religion:
- Made an attempt to follow Augustus’ policy to restore some of the old temples.
- His religious policy included:
o Celebrating the secular games
o Expulsion of astrologers from Rome
o Suppressed Druidism in Gaul.
o Attempted to curb foreign cults in Rome
o Prohibited the worship of him in temples.
Plans for succession:
- Claudius’ plans for succession reveal the influence of his wife and freedmen.
- Nero was to be Claudius’ successor.
o ‘inscriptions suggest that it was also… Augustan blood, not her domineering personality, that led him to the arrangements he now made for succession.’ (Salmon)
- Nero was betrothed to Octavia.
- In 50AD he was adopted with priority over Britannicus into the Claudian family.
o “By his mother’s efforts, and the intrigues of Messalina’s accusers, he was becoming a rival of Britannicus.
o ‘This seemingly unnatural conduct was not simply due to the fact that Nero was five years older than his stepbrother, but rather due to the fact that he could be regarded more as a Julian’ (Salmon)
- He trained his successor.
o ‘Claudius did not propose to repeat Tiberius’ mistake’ (Salmon)
- In 51, Nero adopts Toga Virilis.
- He is made consul elect in 58AD, giving him the title “princeps iuventutis.”
- In 59AD he becomes the prefect of the city, and marries Octavia.
o ‘In 54 Britannicus’ cause seemed close to victory: Claudius let slip the remark that it was his fate to put up with the wickedness of wives and punish them, and in a speech to the senate he recommended his two sons equally and named them on equal terms in his will’ (Garzetti)
The death of Claudius:
- Claudius died on September 18, 54AD.
- He was supposedly murdered, having been poisoned by a mushroom.
o The details of his death are variously reported though most sources are unanimous in accepting the criminal version, even if it is true that ‘rumour always deals more savagely with the death of a great’ (Garzetti)
- Agrippina is implemented as the instigator of the murder.
o ‘Even if she felt the succession of her son Nero was secure, she may have wished to see him on the throne while he was young enough to follow her will and advice.’ (Scullard)
Reaction to his death:
- ‘The death was kept hidden for some hours, through some difficulty in the auspices, until all necessary preparations had been made to secure the succession of Nero, who was finally presented by Burrus to the Praetorian guards.’ (Garzetti)
- ‘The senate was summoned. Consuls and proests offered prayers for the emperors safety.’ (Tacitus.)
- He was honoured with divinity.
- Seneca found that this divinity was the cheapening of the godhead. “The pumpkinification of Claudius” (Seneca.)
General sources:
“His own utterances…show that he possessed sound practical judgement and no little political wisdom.” (Scramuzza.)
“On the occasion of a severe famine he considered the problem of providing an abundant food supply, not only for that particular crisis but for all future time…” (Cassius Dio.)
“His firmest devotion was reserved for Narcissus, his secretary, and Pallas, his treasurer… They were able to acquire such riches, by legitimate and illegitimate means, that when one day Claudius complained how little cash was left in the privy purse, someone answered neatly that he would have heaps of pocket money if only his two freedmen took him into partnership…” (Suetonius.)
Head of Claudius.
“He not only had a remarkable knowledge of the problems of government, but he brought a new sense of responsibility to the throne and strong convictions that the welfare of the people was dependent upon the policies of the princeps.” (Scramuzza.)
“His ability to win the affection of the common people deserves notice. When a false rumour was circulated that he had been murdered, the mob staged a riot. Since there is no evidence that he purchased the public favour by corrupt methods… we may perhaps assume that the man in the street looked on him as a beneficent prince.” (Scramuzza.)
“It would be a mistake, however, to give Seneca and Tacitus full credence when they too accuse Claudius of stupidity, for their motivation was essentially political.” (Scramuzza.)
His historical studies will have excercised an important influence on his thought and action…. a wide appreciation for the past and above all the fact that Rome’s greatness owed much to her ability to introduce change and reform while still preserving essential traditions’ (Scullard)
‘The equestrian order, cared for and promoted with particular care by Claudius, who gave it more clearly defined duties and privileges in the administration of the state’ (Garzetti)
‘Scrupulous concern for justice inspired right from the start his passion for law and the law courts but as with Tiberius this was the most risky of his activity’ (Garzetti)
