Claudius

Question 1

Claudius - senate - kind

Answer 1

Kind
- ‘abolished the charge of maiestas’, pardoned those who had called for democracy, even gave them ‘honour and offices’ (Joe 60.3)

Question 2

Senate - Claudius - respectful

Answer 2

Respectful
‘did not presume excessive honorifics…refused Imperator’
-‘consuls came down from their seats to speak with him. He got up and walked forward to meet them’ (CD 60.6)
- Claudius reserved seats for senators in the circus, and still allowed them to sit anywhere (CD 60.7)

Question 3

Senate - Claudius - cruel

Answer 3

Cruel
- Executed 35 senators and 300 equites flippantly. ‘Executed his father in law Appius Silanus, the two Julias, the daughter of Drusus and the daughter of Germanicus, all on uncertain charges.’ (Suet 29)

Question 4

Senate - Claudius - demeaning

Answer 4

Demeaning
- Allowing a Gallic tribe, the Aedui to become senators (Tac 11.25) (also on bronze inscription in Lugdunum)

Question 5

Equestrian - Claudius cruel and unequal

Answer 5

Cruel
- Forced equestrians who had performed under Gaius’ rule to perform in order to censure them for their ‘past conduct’ (CD 60.7)
Unequal
- As censor, kept a young reprobate, a notorious seducer of married women and girls, but banned some who left Italy without permission (Suet 16)

“Performers forced to return to the stage as punishment.” — Dio 60.7

Question 6

Plebs - Claudius - positive/reasonable

Answer 6

Good
-‘if [Claudius] became emperor he would protect them from civil wars’ (Joe 227)

• ‘did not expel the Jews’ (CD 60.6), but heavily restricted their ability to meet and eventually expels them in 49AD (c.f. Tacitus)

Question 7

Plebs - Claudius - popular

Answer 7

Popular
- Crowds demanded imperial rule from Claudius specifically (Suet 10)

“Plebs, upon rumour of his assassination, defended him… accused Senate.” — Suet. 12

“Staged sea battle on Lake Fucine… with mechanical sea god.” — Suet. 21

Question 8

Soldiers - Claudius - reliant

Answer 8

Praetorians chose Claudius (Joe 168) - best for them to stay influential
Rewards them with ‘15,000 sesterces’ annually (Suet 10)

Question 9

Claudius justice

Answer 9

general amnesty…executing a few of the tribunes and centurions who had conspired against Gaius…because they had planned his own murder’ (12)
‘recalled no exile without senatorial permission’ (12)

‘let himself be guided by his own sense of equity’ as judge (14)
‘inconsistent’ as censor (16)

Question 10

Claudius family

Answer 10

‘instituted public commemorative rites for his parents…annual games on his father’s birthday…Augusta title given to his mother’ (Suet 12)

Question 11

Claudius general Britain

Answer 11

sole campaign of ‘no great importance (17)
(17) ‘fought no battles…but reduced a large part of the island to submission’

“Extensive equipment, including elephants…” — Dio 60.21

He crossed the stream… defeated them and captured Camulodunum.” — Dio 60.21

“Saluted as imperator several times… granted triumph.” — Dio 60.22

Question 12

Claudius motives Britain

Answer 12

Britain chosen as ‘triumph could be most readily earned’ (17)

“Bericus… had persuaded Claudius to send a force.” — Dio 60.19

Question 13

Claudius wives+ freedmen influence

Answer 13

“whenever they desired anyone’s death…terrify Claudius… allowed them to do anything.” — Dio 60.14 (example of Silanus)

“They peddled out franchises and offices.” — Dio 60.17

Suet 29 so infleunced that ‘seemed to be their servant not their emperor; he distributed public offices’

Question 14

Claudius freedmen success

Answer 14

Pliny ‘Callistus, Pallas and Narcissus’ wealthiest freedmen (Natural History 33)

“Freedmen acted as informers against their masters.” — Dio 60.15

“Pallas… given 15 million sesterces… praised for old-world frugality.” — Tac. 12.53

Question 15

Claudius Messalina

Answer 15

‘Messalina, the most abandoned and lustful of women’ (CD 60.14)

“Messalina’s lover Silius… Claudius asked, ‘Am I still emperor?’” — Suet. 36

“She rewarded men who let their wives be used.” — Dio 60.18

“Marriage contract tricked him into complacency.” — Suet. 29

Question 16

Claudius Agrippina

Answer 16

“Bound to her by lawless love… gave Nero precedence.” — Tac. 12.25

“Accused of many crimes… prevented him from acting.” — Suet. 44–45

“Held Britannicus to her breast… kept him locked away.” — Tac. 12.68

Question 17

Claudius death

Answer 17

“Poisoned mushroom… then feather tipped with poison.” — Tac. 12.67

12.65 ‘stepmother aimed to overthrow the whole imperial house’
“Claudius died… report went about he was poisoned.” — Josephus 20 (

Question 18

Claudius succession

Answer 18

‘manly toga’ of Nero ‘prematurely’ 12.41 (advanced to successor)
12.65 - wanted Britannicus to take revenge

“Will not read aloud… would have upset the people.” — Tac. 12.69

Question 19

Claudius reforms

Answer 19

“Extended the pomerium.” — Pomerium cippus inscription

“New harbour at Ostia.” — Ostia monument

“Returned confiscated funds.” — Dio 60.6

“Did not accept excessive honorifics – contrast with Gaius.” — Suet. 12

“Restoring Macedonia and Achaia to senatorial control.” — Suet. 25
“Supervised the corn supply.” — Dupondius coin

Question 20

Claudius accession

Answer 20

“Claudius became emperor… by an extraordinary accident.” — Suetonius 10

“Kidnapped by the soldiers.” — Josephus 19.165

“They demanded an immediate decision on their emperor-to-be.” — Josephus 19.254

Question 21

Claudius religion revivial

Answer 21

-‘returned to the cities the statues which Gaius had summoned from them’ (CD 60.6)
-‘Claudius not only revived obsolescent traditions but invented new ones’ (Suet 22)
- ‘he expelled [the Jews] from the city’ (Suet 25)
- ‘he never admitted a priest…without first taking a personal oath that he thought him worthy’(Suet 22)