Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus born 10 BC to Drusus and Antonia Junior), emperor 41-54 AD
He was never adopted into the Julian gens and was still a Claudius.
A.
Momigliano, Claudius,
B. GWD Hogarth, Claudius
C. VM Scramuzza, Emperior Claudius
A scholar, wrote treatises on Etruscan History and language and Carthage.
The senate sent 2 tribunes to him asking him to step down or to recognize the authority of the Senate over his position; he agreed to this so crisis averted. But he gave a huge donative to his urban cohorts (15,000 HS each), setting a bad precedent. He tried to return to the tone of the Augustan settlement, but the hatred of the aristocracy dogged him from the start. His rule was characterized by his more effective rule as Princeps, but a more open display of monarchical power. He displayed a paternalistic tendency to interfere at will with administration, intervening to direct even smallest detail. He was a very successful emperor, but his very success meant an inevitable conflict with the senate and the aristocracy, who saw their power diminished.
Copious legislation, though he preferred edicts which were limited to his own lifespan but perfectly legal; assumed the censorship (Inscription of Lyons) to allow descendants of roman citizens to enter senatorial careers, an attempt to inject new blood into an old nobility. Generous grants of Latin rights, conceding the inevitable and traditional expansion of Roman citizenship as outlying regions became Romanized. Census of 48 AD showed 6 million citizens, 1 million more than in 14 AD.
He limited naming princeps in wills, he showed concern for welfare of slaves
Religion: he viewed divine honors as privileges of the gods alone, but he used growing tendency of ruler cult to enhance patriotism. He expelled Jews from Rome, stirring up new Christian movement. Banned astrologers too. Prohibited druids in Gaul, and tried Greek Alexandrians for inciting Jewish riots.
Antiochus IV of Commagene; Herod Agrippa
Colony at
Ab epistulis (general secretary) – Narcissus
A rationibus (financial secretary) – Pallas
A libellis (secretary for petitions) – petitions Callistrus
These freedmen wore senatorial ornamenta;
Tac. Ann. 11.23.1
Messalina, Agrippina her son by previous marriage, Nero
Colonia Julia Augusta - Claudiopolis
Claudius conquered Britain and added new provinces, Britannica, Mauretania, Judea, Lycia, Thrace, Rhodes. Pacified provinces Macedonia and Achaea returned to Senatorial control. Reorganized provinces of Spain, Noricum. He planted numerous colonies along the limes, Lugdunum, Cologne, Dalmatia, Pannonia, Thrace, Cappadocia, Lycaonia and Syria, numerous Claudiopoleis
He assigned Ser. Sulpicius Galba, one of his best generals to organize Africa (senatorial province), intervening in senatorial domain. Conquest of Britain by A. Plautius and T. Flavius Vespasianus. He left L. Vitellius as his representative in rome and went to Britain for 16 days. But he reigned in ambitions of Cn. Domitius Corbulo on the Rhine. He supported Caligula’s allies in the east, Julius Agrippa and Antiochus IV of Commagene. Agrippa began to collude with neighboring kings, but he died in 44 and Claudius took Judea back as a province. He ruled in favor of Jews of Alexandria, promising them undisturbed practice of religion but warning that riots had to cease.
Parthia: tried to secure control of Armenia by stirring trouble in Parthian royal family, planted a garrison in Armenia and sent claimants to the throne in Parthia. This would lead to serious problems under Nero when a dynamic king, Vologaeses assumed the throne.
Asserted Roman influence in Crimea by supporting client kings.
Roads: in Italy, Spain, Sardinia, Lusitania, Baetica, Gaul, Pannonia, Dalmatia and Cilicia.
Army: he boosted morale, he was popular with army, but he displayed a desire to control both imperial and senatorial provinces. He extended Roman and Latin citizenship, especially in s. Gaul
He elevated Equestrian order; he enhanced the bureaucracy to the disadvantage of the Senate, Organization of what became the imperial chancellery. Legislation, judicial rulings, social welfare, public works, religion. Procurators became officials of state beside senatorial curators. He controlled the senate rigidly, forced attendance, no holidays, no travel. He was popular with the lower classes because as a private citizen he came to enjoy everyday amusements, board games, gladiatorial combats, etc.
Public works, port at Ostia, Aqua Claudia, draining of the Fucene Lake.
Weaknesses, poor choice in women due to his sexual appetite, Messalina actually staged a Senatorial coup while he was away in Britain in 48 AD and Agrippina the Younger (his niece, last daughter of Germanicus) ultimately poisoned him. Her son Nero was by previous husband, L. Domitius Ahenobarbus. He came to be dominated by his wives and freedmen.
He was guilty of erratic behavior and silly jokes, he lacked a “public persona.” Extremely superstitious and sometimes scatterbrained
Quick to respond to threats real or presumed, executed 35 senators and 300 knights.