Exploring the Leadership of Roman Emperor Claudius

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 became emperor. This will help us to understnad 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. From a young age Claudius was physically and mentally challenged, and due to this he was the out cast of his family, everyone including Augustus believed him to be an embaressment. Augustus also done him no favours, he didn’t give him any ‘honours except a seat in the college of augurs and listed him in his will among heirs in the third degree.’ Claudius was then forced to socialise with slaves and freedmen, which is unusual because of his status within the family. Claudius was also unable to enter a career as a political magistrate, firstly because he was unable to perform the required ten years of military service due to his incapabilities. However, Claudius eventually, and unexpectedly, became emperor after his nephew and previous emperor, Gaius, was assassinated. Claudius was taken straight to the Praetorian barracks and was proclaimed emperor.

So, now we see how Claudius lived his life before and also how he unexpectedly took the role of emperor. Now, in order to discuss whether Claudius was a successful emperor, it is best to follw on from what was mentioned earlier. Claudius, from a young age, socialised with freedmen and slaves, both of these being the lowest socially ranked people in rome. Once Claudius...

... middle of paper ...

...lso, it seems, unable to make the distinction between his authority and the senates, and he began to encroach on the senates authority quite often. Claudius would one minute attempt to please the senate, for example, he gave the senate back the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia, and then anger the senate with his administrative laws, and he simple minded attacks on senators themselves. Claudius’ reign was full of misconceived tasks in his aim to make an impact, but rather he angered senatrors and equites with his simple mindedness, and attacks on their established way of life.

Finally, If we weigh up Claudius’ successes and failures, we see that he was an effective emperor, the good and effective things that he done for his people and his military success, out weigh his failure with the senate and the upper class, which in all fairness, didn’t hinder his ruling.