7 points on being manipulated by women and freemen
® All of Claudius’ actions “were dictated by his wives and freedmen” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® “he practically always obeyed their whims” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® “Claudius was unaware” of Messalina’s promiscuity [Cassius Dio, 60.18.1]
® Tacitus tells us of her supposed marriage ceremony with C. Silius and then rushing out to meet Claudius in a waste cart, which even Tacitus thinks is unlikely to have happened (his account is like fiction)
® There were many powerful and rich freedmen under Claudius [Pliny]
® Agrippina and Pallas convince Claudius to adopt Nero [Tacitus]
® Narcissus and Messalina made up a story saying they both dreamt Silanus would kill Claudius. [Dio]
2 points on cowardice
® (41) He was found hiding behind the curtains. [Suetonius, Gaius, 10]
® After Messalina and Silius’ marriage he runs to Praetorian Guard camp “‘Am I still emperor?” [Suetonius]
2 points on building administer
® About the Anio Novus: “there has been no more remarkable achievement in the whole world” [Pliny]
® Tries to ensure better grain supply with harbour at Ostia [Suetonius, Claudius]
power thanks to plebs 5 points
® Claudius behaved very informally at his ‘Picnics’ which was good for relations with plebs [Suetonius]
® When he comes to power he gave every solider 15,000 sesterces, making him the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” [Suetonius, Claudius]
® When a fire broke out in the Aemilian quarter he recruited firefighters by sitting with bags of gold and paying people. [Suetonius, Claudius, 18]
® After being attacked by a mob with stale crusts over grain shortage he does his imports grain, insuring merchants against losing ship, and bounty for every grain transport built [Suetonius]
® 42AD Scribionianus and Vinicianus (senatorial candidates for emperor when Gaius died) plot to overthrow Claudius but army puts them down.
humble personality 5 points
® “He abolished the charge of maiestas” [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 60.3.6]
® “sitting in court even on his own birthday” [Suetonius, Claudius, 14]
® “he wore a purple- bordered toga” like any other Senator. [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 6.9]
® Counter: “He immediately accepted all the honours voted to him except the title of ‘Father of the Fatherland’, which he takes on later. [Dio Cassius]
® Claudius was very deferential to the Senate which endeared him to the people [Suet, Claud]
honourable personality 3 points
® He gave immunity to those who’d sought democracy or has been candidates to be emperor [Dio]
® Didn’t let the day of Gaius’ murder be a public festival even though he ascended that day [Suetonius]
® Dio Cassius tells us of his “exemplary conduct”, including how well he handled financial matters by refusing gifts as Augustus and Gaius had and returning funds confiscated under Tiberius and Gaius (financial problems were used to denote a bad emperor)
example of largesse
® When he comes to power he gave every solider 15,000 sesterces, making him the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” [Suetonius, Claudius]
more stability
® The people were happy that Claudius was in power as they believed “the emperors acted as a curb for its rapacity and were a source of protection for themselves” [Josephus]
aid after disasters
® When a fire broke out in the Aemilian quarter, he recruited firefighters by sitting with bags of gold and paying people [Suetonius, Claudius, 18]
army needed
® Coin of Claudius and Praetorian Guard celebrates army giving him power [Josephus, Dio & Suetonius]
influenced by women
® Agrippina manipulated Claudius so that he named Nero his heir, not Britannicus. [Tacitus]
ease to ascend
® “He immediately accepted all the honours voted to him except the title of ‘Father of the Fatherland’, and that he took later on.” [Cassius Dio, Roman History, 60.3.2]
® He was found hiding behind the curtains. [Suetonius, Gaius, 10]
path of succession
® Claudius had been out of the limelight until elevated by the Praetorian Guard. [Suetonius]
how women ran the state 3 points
® All of Claudius’ actions “were dictated by his wives and freedmen” [Suetonius Claudius]
® Silanus was killed for refusing to have sex with Messalina [Cassius Dio, 60.14]
® Agripinna was behind Burrus’ appointment as Praetorian Guard prefect [Dio Cassius]
women and succession 2 points
® “there is nothing she will not sacrifice to imperial ambition” [Tacitus, Annals, 12.65]
® Claudius used his daughter’s marriages to gain successors in the form of his sons-in-law, as shown by how Cassius Dio had them take part in the donation to the plebs.
relevance in imperial cult 3 points
® “made the Senate decree his grandmother Livia divine honours” [Suetonius, Claudius, 11]
® Claudius rejecting part of Alexandrians’ petition to worship him “temples and such forms of honour have been granted by all ages to the gods alone” [Greek Papyri in British Museum]
® “you are by nature reverent towards the emperors” [Greek Papyri in British Museum]
changes to who is in charge 3 points
® “he practically always obeyed their whims” [Suetonius, Claudius, 25]
® He revised the senatorial roll & convinced the senate to make certain Gauls senators [Tacitus]
® Pallas, treasurer, mentioned by Pliny as one of the freedmen who became even richer than Crassus under Claudius. Narcissus is seen working with Messalina in Dio.
food supply 2 points
® “A starving population is intolerant of reason” [Seneca, On the Shortness of Life, 18.5]
® Built harbour at Ostia to secure food supply from Egypt. [Suetonius]
Building works 3 points
® Aqueduct of Gaius and Claudius (Anio Novus): “there has been no more remarkable achievement in the whole world” [Pliny, Natural History, 36.123]
® Augustus had turned down the request to drain the Fucine Lake and Julius Caesar had abandoned the Ostia project. [Suetonius, Claudius, 20]
® Built harbour at Ostia to secure food supply from Egypt. [Suetonius and the Inscription at Ostia]
senate is hostile towards him 2 points
® The Senate “thought that they would now be in control of government business” [Josephus]
® Claudius waited 30 days to see the Senate due to fearing them. [Dio Cassius]
emperors are hostile towards the senate 3 points
® Doesn’t really belong here: Created new patricians. [Tacitus, Annals of Rome, 11.25]
® Doesn’t really belong here: Added Gauls to the Senate. [Tacitus, Annals, 11.24]
® “He executed thirty-five senators and 300 Roman equites” [Suetonius, Claudius, 29]
emperors are nice to the senate 2 points
® “sitting in court even on his own birthday” [Suetonius, Claudius, 14]
® As censor, he allowed Senators to consider their position and renounce their senatorial rank instead of just expulsing them. [Tacitus, Annals of Rome, 11.25]
senate is nice to him
® “The senate was reduced to impotence” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 19.255]
he defended the people as tribune 2 points
® When a fire broke out he recruited firefighters by sitting with bags of gold and paying people [Suetonius, Claudius, 18] -> shows special care for plebs
® The people believed “the emperors acted as a curb for its rapacity and were a source of protection for themselves” [Josephus]
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Gracchi 180-121BC11
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Sulla and Marius 119-79BC24
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Augustus20
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The first Tiumvirate10
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Tiberius17
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The second triumvirate11
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Why Greece beat Persia6
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The causes of the Peloponnesian war in 431 BC4
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The reasons for Athenian failure in the Peloponnesian War6
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Relationships of the Peloponnesian league and Delian League and Persia23
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Armies Strength and weaknesses18
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Importance of Allies, treaties and leadership17
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Spartan Hierarchy (kings, ephors, gerousia, helots, perekoi))26
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Education, Austerity, money, piety in sparta, economy18
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The Army in Sparta, and mirage, navarchy, battles18
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Oliganthropia, women, mothakes in Sparta, spartan values, mess system16
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Gaius Caligula30
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Claudius31
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Nero25
