Roman Emperor Claudius (sorry for the Nero mistake) The Roman Emperor Claudius was born on August 1st, to the parents of Drusus Claudius Nero and Livia. Though his life is not a simple as that. He was born with a few birth defects causing him to drool and limp about. Leading to his parents keeping him hidden throughout most of his adolescence. With him being secluded his whole life, it lead to him having more time to study and throwing his extra time into gaining knowledge. Having been the butt of his Nehpew Gaius’s jokes his life was about to change when he was promoted to suffect consulship. After the murder of the emperor Gaius by angered members of his guardsmen, Claudius was found by the guardsmen, declared Emperor of Rome and taken to the guards camp.The senate was holding debates as to who should be come emperor next but when the guard arrived they informed the senate the next Emperor of Rome would be Claudius. The senate …show more content…
He annexed new lands for his empire. Under him the Roman armies flourished. He raised the wages of the armies and helped it grow through programs where 25 years of army service gave a person Roman citizenship. He kept law and order and gave just punishments. Like sentencing the assassins of Gaius to death. Even when the corrupt senate conspired against him 6 or more times he was able to thwart them one plot after another. Claudius was one of the better Roman Emperors in a long time, sadly Agrippina had to ruin it. Overall from his humble beginnings to sad endings, he was among a few of the top Emperors of Rome in my book. He kept balance, killing conspirers and punishing those aiding them. He grew the empire through annexing Britian. He had very close ties and great respect for his army which I personally like. Despite his disabilities (mentally and physically) he was still able to lead his nation better than some previous more enabled
An Exploration of the Ways Shakespeare Presents the Character Claudius From Claudius’s first speech the audience gains the impression the character is political and educated. Shakespeare uses metaphorical language to emphasis this. Claudius’s first speech in the script is full of metaphorical language, and it shows a manipulating, persuasive character who can convince a kingdom that it was perfectly acceptable for him to marry his brother’s wife just a few weeks after his death. It is the language Shakespeare has chosen to give Claudius that can convince others that he is morally correct. He uses imagery of facial features to represent the kingdom as one body.
Claudius was a significant ruler of the early Roman imperial era. He reigned from AD 41-54. He was easily influenced by those with questionable agendas, such as his last two wives and his freedmen, yet his principal was deemed successful. His expansion of the empire, his new reforms and his control over the senate were all beneficial to the state and his rule was one which paved the way for those who ruled after him. Claudius was a member of the equestrian class and became a consul in AD 37 (Emperor Claudius Timeline, N Gill).
The portrait of Claudius as Jupiter is a marble statue that was made during the Roman Imperial period from 42-43 AD. It is currently on display at the Musei Vaticani in Rome as it stands as a larger than life-size portrait. The original location of this portrait was Olympia, Rome. Although we know that Claudius commissioned this portrait, the sculptor remains unknown. The purpose of this statue was to imply Claudius’ divine connection to Augustus and
In this essay, we are going to discuss whether Claudius was an effective ruler. In order to achieve an answer to this, we will also discuss how he governed his empire and how he went about administrating laws and provinces. To start with, however, it is best to briefly introduce Claudius before he becomes emperor. This will help us to understand his situation and how past events effected his ruling. Claudius was the great nephew of Augustus, and so was part of the most important family in Rome at the time.
"Five Good Emperors (ancient Rome)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. .
In conclusion, Augustus has written his personal account and presented himself as popular and successful leader. He did many things that helped society as well as did many things that did nothing long term. Augustus may have done things for only the betterment of himself but they did pay off when it all came to an
Claudius was born in Lugdunan on August 1, 10 BC and died on October 13, AD 54 in Rome at the age of 63. Claudius was born into a Royal Imperial family and was the youngest child of Drusus and Antonia Minor. Although he had other siblings, only two survived past childhood, his older brother Germanicus and his older sister Livilla. Additionally, Claudius father passed away suddenly when he was an infant leaving Antonia to raise the children.
Nero was born December 15, 37 AD at Antium. His name was originally Lucious Domitius Ahenobarbus. His parents were Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. Domitius served as consul for Rome. He was a man of execrable character. Domitius died shortly after Nero's birth in 40 AD. Agrippina was the great-grand daughter of the Emperor Augustus. Her father was the famous Roman General, Germanicus. The memory of the great general was raverred by many Romans. This extended Agrippina the power of having the reputation of a heroic father and a respectable family heritage. She would use the power of her father's reputation to its fullest for the sa...
Tiberius' reign over the Roman Empire stretched the longest of any emperor during Claudius' lifetime. This may be a good reason why Robert Graves, in his historical novel published in 1934, “I, Claudius” devoted more than a third of it to the reign of Tiberius. “I, Claudius”, told through the eyes of the "half-wit" Claudius, records the history of the first Imperial family at Rome, including the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and even Claudius himself. Livia, Augustus' wife and Tiberius' mother, played a crucial role throughout the reign of Augustus and Tiberius by eliminating all possible heirs other than her son to the throne of the emperor. By the use of poison and banishment, she was very successful in her aspirations and even manages to arrange for Caligula to succeed Tiberius, although she died several years before Tiberius. Tiberius also played a key role during this story, undergoing a change from a private army general to a mentally-sick Roman emperor.
Octavian enabled the long, nonviolent time of the Pax Romana, (Latin for Roman peace) by changing Rome from a frail, collapsing republican government to a powerful empire. He is known as the first, and one of the greatest, Roman Emperors ever. Octavian was born on September 23, 63 BC, and died in 14 AD. Born with the name Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius Julius Caesar via his will, and then was named Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. This happened in 44 BC when his great uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by a group of conspirators. Additionally, he received the name “Augustus” a term meaning “the revered one” from the Roman Senate in 27 BC. Because of the various names he had, it is common to call him Octavius while referring to the events that between 63 and 44 BC, Octavian when referring to events between 44 and 27 BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC. Octavian is arguably the single most important figure in Roman history. Ever since he was a young boy, he was destined to become the next great leader. For example, Octavian along with his friend Marcus Agrippa went to visit the Sibyl of Cumae (oracle). When the Sibyl saw him, she bowed at his feet and said that he would be the next great leader. He did not believe her at the time, but just a few years later Julius Caesar would be dead and he would have power. Over the course of his long and spectacular career as “Principate,” he put an end to the collapse of the Republic, and established a system that would stand in the Roman government for three centuries.
Rome has experienced both its good and bad leaders throughout its stint as a monarchy. Cincinnatus and Superbus both emerged as standout examples for both ends of the spectrum. Their actions and decisions exemplified what it takes to be either a good or bad ruler. Their legacies and remembrance have survived the ages for a reason. Both rulers committed acts that affected Rome greatly whether it was in a positive or negative way. Cincinnatus cared for Rome and his actions showed that through his valiance and loyalty. Superbus will forever be deemed as a bad leader because of his greed and disregard for the Roman law. Rome experimented with people and experienced the best and worst of times, icons emerged.
Claudius’s chief concerns about Hamlet are that his life would have been in danger; his safety. Claudius is concerned that Hamlet would have killed him instead of Polonius, if he was there at that time. He was scared when he heard the news of Hamlet killing Polonius thinking it was him behind the tapestry. With relief and fear, Claudius tells Gertrude, “O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there” (4.1.13-14). Claudius is relieved that he was not murdered by Hamlet. This contributed to character development because this shows us that Hamlet is ready to take revenge, since in the beginning he was confused and afraid, but now has taken the steps to take revenge. Character development can be seen in Claudius too because now we know that Claudius is afraid of the consequences, he will be receiving for the crime he has done.
Gaius Octavius, or later known as Octavian, was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. He took over after Julius died and the republic fell. He belonged to a successful family. His father was the first of his family to become a senator, his mother was the niece of Julius Caesar. They lived in Velitrae. This shows how little of a political background he came from. He traveled with his uncle/ adopted father and learned the ropes of government. He was 18 when he came to Rome to claim his dictatorship. Mark Antony was chief lieutenant at the time (Grant). Augustus Caesar is often a man mistaken for his adoptive father, Julius Caesar, but this man made a name for himself by becoming the first emperor of Rome. He rebuilt Rome from the crumbling civilization that it was to a thriving empire by reorganizing the government and ending the Roman Republic once and for all.
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet revolves around Hamlet’s quest to avenge his father’s murder. Claudius’ first speech as King at the beginning of Scene 2, Act 1 introduces the themes of hierarchy, incest and appearance versus reality and plays the crucial role of revealing Claudius’ character as part of the exposition. The audience is left skeptical after Horatio’s questioning of King Hamlet’s ghost in the first scene of the play. By placing Claudius’ pompous speech immediately after the frightening appearance of Hamlet’s ghost, Shakespeare contrasts the mournful atmosphere in Denmark to the fanfare at the palace and makes a statement about Claudius’ hypocrisy. Through diction, doubling and figurative language, Shakespeare reveals Claudius to be a self centered, hypocritical, manipulative and commanding politician.
...t. Unfortunately for Claudius, Gertrude in her last breath reveals that there was poison in the wine. This causes Hamlet to react and kill King Claudius, ending his rule and his life.