Claudius

Several ancient authors have accused Claudius of being a womanizer and being easily manipulated by women. He was married four times, and had been betrothed twice before.

His first wife was Plautia Urgulanilla with whom he had a son. Later on he divorced Urgulanilla for adultery, and soon took another wife, Aelia Paetina. This marriage too ended in divorce. He had one daughter from his second marriage.

Claudius married Valeria Messalina after some years. This marriage too ended because of his wife’s numerous sexual affairs. He had two children from this marriage.

He was born on 1 August 11 BC at the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls as the son of Nero Claudius Drusus—a popular and successful Roman general—and Antonia. He had two older siblings.

He was the nephew of the emperor Tiberius and a grandson of Livia Drusilla.

His father died while Claudius was very young and he was raised by his mother. He was a sickly child who developed a limp and slight deafness following an illness. He was also clumsy and unattractive. Due to these reasons, his own family ostracized him and considered him to be an embarrassment.

As he reached his adolescence it became evident that he was an intelligent young man with interests in scholarly pursuits. Tutors including Livy and Sulpicius Flavus were hired to teach him history. He was also inclined towards philosophy.

Because of Claudius’ handicaps, he was never assigned any important position in the Roman Republic. He repeatedly requested his uncle, Tiberius, for a political position but his requests were turned down. He was only granted consular ornaments.

After the death of Tiberius, Caligula took over as the emperor. The new emperor recognized some of Claudius’ potentials and appointed him as his co-consul in 37 AD. But the emperor constantly tormented and humiliated Claudius before the Senate.

Caligula was assassinated in a broad-based conspiracy involving the Praetorian commander Cassius Chaerea and several senators on 24 January 41 AD. Following the murder, several other uninvolved noblemen were also killed. Terrified, Claudius fled to the palace to hide.

The Praetorian guards eventually found him, but instead of killing him, they installed him as the new emperor.

Though initially believed to be weak and incompetent, Claudius proved to be an able and efficient administrator. Upon becoming the emperor his health also improved considerably.

As the emperor Claudius gained much fame and respect for vastly expanding the Roman Empire. In 43 AD, he undertook a military campaign for the conquest of Britain; the campaign was successful and Britain became a province of the Roman Empire.