Claudius I, whose full name was Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus (August 1-54 BC), was often translated as Claudius, Claudius, or Claudius I, who imitated the custom of European monarchs to use numbers. He was the fourth emperor of the Julian Claudius dynasty of the Roman Empire, reigning from 41-54 AD.
Claudius ascended to the throne as the head of state by accident. In 41 AD, after the assassination of Emperor Caligula, the guards supported this middle-aged man from the Claudius family and was recognized by the Senate as the Roman Emperor. His rule strives for harmony among all classes, adopts a middle ground in everything, repairs the broken relationship between the emperor and the senators during the Caligula era, enhances the political power of provincial citizens in Rome, and builds the country's industry. Later historians believed that the centralized form of political rule in the early Roman Empire was peacefully transferred in his hands.

Early experiences
Claudius served in Gaul during his father Drusus's reign and was born in 10 BC in Lugdunus Gaul (present-day Lyon, France). Claudius's father passed away during his infancy. Later, his older brother Germanicus was adopted by his uncle Octavian, so he inherited the family of Claudius.
Since his youth, Claudius has focused on reading classics and studying. He studied history under the guidance of Levi, with 20 volumes of Etruscan and 8 volumes of Carthaginian historical works (which have not been passed down to this day), and also planned to write a biography of Mark Antony, but the latter was abandoned due to negative materials related to Augustus. He also delved into the language of the time and used new Latin letters to meet linguistic requirements.

Nevertheless, Claudius had significant physical defects in his appearance during his childhood and adolescence due to physical disabilities (possibly polio). Causing him to lack vitality both physically and mentally. His mother Antonia often referred to him as a "strange person who was only created by nature but not completed by it.". After he reached adulthood, Octavian once mentioned in a letter, "... If he is sound, then what reason do we have to suspect that he should be promoted step by step like his brother? However, if we are well aware that his physical and mental development is not sound, we should not give people who are accustomed to ridicule and ridicule the leverage to provide him and insult us." [2]
Therefore, during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, this member of the Claudian family never had any opportunity to participate in public life. [1]
Accidental Ascension
In 37 AD, Claudius became the consul of Rome for the first time after his nephew Caligula became emperor. But this vanity did not bring him people's respect. Due to his lack of political training in the past, Claudius was unable to give a clear speech in front of the public; And Caligula also looked at this uncle's embarrassment with a mocking attitude. Therefore, people have never paid much attention to this member of the royal family and always watch him slip up in public in a humorous way. [1]
In 41 AD, Caligula, who aroused disgust among many classes of the Roman people, was assassinated by the commander of the Guard, who also killed Caligula's wife and daughter. The guards found Claudius, who was 50 years old at the time, and the soldiers hailed him as the emperor, taking him to the military camp for protection. Claudius thought that the Guard had rebelled and was very afraid, but later the situation gradually became clear. When the Senate learned of Caligula's death, it immediately held a meeting to discuss the future situation, and some proposed restoring the republican system; Later, everyone decided to maintain the system of heads of state established by Augustus, acknowledge the actions of the Guard, and acknowledge that Claudius had all the power of the emperor.

Reign period
After assuming the throne, Claudius faced multiple upheavals. During the party struggle, Asylus conspired to assassinate Emperor Claudius, but was uncovered and failed. Empress Mesarina took the opportunity to expand her influence and eliminate political enemies. Darmatia's deputy general Fulius planned to launch a civil war, but was suppressed within 5 days due to the fear of the legion. [2]
Despite the turbulent situation, Claudius I still left behind many political achievements. At the beginning of his tenure, he sent troops to Britain to expand the territory of the Roman Empire; During his fourteen years of rule, he completed some important public works, allowing provincial nobles to enter the Senate and appoint high-ranking officials, and established the bureaucratic system of the Roman Empire. [3] During his reign, the Roman Empire's Regional Assembly passed laws on women's guardianship. [4]
In the year 48 AD, Claudius I executed his empress, Mesalina, who had gone out of the wall with a red apricot blossom. The following year, he married Agrippina the Younger. [1]
Mysterious Death
In October 54, Claudius died of food poisoning during a family dinner. At that time, people generally suspected that it was Claudius' fourth wife, Little Agrippina, who had poisoned her. Claudius died at the age of 64 and reigned for 14 years. After his death, he was buried by the king and his name was listed as a deity. After Nero came to power, he revoked this honor, but later Vespa restored his "sacred" title.

Consolidate political power
Caligula's many reverse actions have caused hostility towards the emperor among people of all walks of life. After Claudius I came to power, he immediately expressed special respect for the Senate, and many administrative measures were entrusted to the Senate for final decision-making; He also respected the subordinate political groups of Rome - the Council of Clans (Curia) and the Council of Citizens, and did not suppress their voices based on his own will. Faced with the dual issues of "senators not allowed to profit" and the professional ethics of defense lawyers, Claudius I stipulated that defense lawyers could receive remuneration of less than 10000 sesquites, and the senators could also earn a certain income by serving as defense lawyers. [5]
He has a humble and gentle personality, refusing to use the title of Commander in Chief. [2] He often personally attends judicial hearings and litigation judgments. In order to enhance his reputation in the military, he organized 27 legions and commanded them to personally conquer Britain, quelling the local rebellion. All of these have earned him the love and admiration of the people in the short term. [1]
Industrial construction
Claudius did not complete many public works, but they were all important. He dug up the lagoon "Lake Fuchinus" on the Apennine Mountains and introduced the lake water into Rome through a diversion channel; This project took 11 years to complete and a total of 3 miles of drainage was built. Another major project was the expansion of the outer port of Ostia in Rome, with two curved breakwaters built on both sides outside the port, and a breakwater built in the deep water section at the entrance. Finally, a lighthouse was erected based on the Pharos Island lighthouse in Alexandria to guide ships traveling at night. [2] He also expanded roads in Italy.

Pay attention to provinces
The constituent members of the Roman Senate are only elected from the high-level citizens of Rome and Italy; Most of the nobles in the provinces of Gaul after the conquest of Caesar were unable to enter. During the reign of Claudius, after a heated debate, he agreed to grant the nobility of later naturalized regions such as Gaul in Belgium the qualification to be elected to the Senate. [1] He also granted Roman citizenship to provincial residents. In addition, he also established a new province in Mauritania. [3]
Bureaucratic system
Claudius I initially established a complete set of bureaucratic institutions: the Secretariat was in charge of domestic, foreign, and military affairs, the Finance Department was in charge of finance, and the Judicial Department handled legal affairs.

Overall evaluation
After the assassination of Caligula, Claudius quickly quelled the political and economic situation in Rome. And made certain contributions to the stable development of the empire. From the succession oaths of emperors such as Vespasian, Titus, and Tumisen of the Flavian dynasty in the future ("I will follow the governance of the gods Augustus, Tiberius, and Claudius..."), it can be seen that his performance ultimately received positive evaluations from the Romans. [1]
Historical evaluations
French Enlightenment philosopher Montesquieu: Gladys ultimately eradicated the old order - he had given the power of judgment to his own officials. The main purpose of the war between Marius and Sura was to solve the question: to whom should this power belong, and whether it belongs to the elders or knights? The incompetent guy, as soon as he is happy, cancels the power of both... No monarch who ruled after the republic is more autocratic than his power, because he has all the power of the people, and the people cannot limit themselves. [6]
British historian Edward Gibbon: In the 1st century AD, the only province added to the Roman Empire was Britain. This forty year long war was initiated by the most foolish and ignorant emperor, continued to be supported by the most debauched and unscrupulous emperor, and ended in the hands of the most cowardly and cowardly emperor. (Referring to Claudius, Nero, and Tumisen respectively) [7]
The famous Latin American liberator Simon Bolivar: For every Cincinnatius, there are a hundred Caracallas; There are a hundred Caligulas for every Tura; Every Vespasian has a hundred Claudius. [8]
American historian Stavrianos: Indeed, the four emperors after Augustus - Tiberius (reigned 14-37 AD), Caligula (reigned 37-41 AD), Claudius (reigned 41-54 AD), and Nero (reigned 54-68 AD) - were all incompetent. However, the empire withstood their tyranny

Late completion of great achievements
Claudius I was the fourth emperor of the Roman Empire, and he did not live the life that an emperor should have when he was young. He has been limping since childhood and has physical defects, even his mother described him as a "deformed person". Claudius was constantly overlooked and ridiculed, so he spent most of his youth drinking, playing dice, and conducting academic research. It was not until the age of 46 that he took up an official position and became the consul of his nephew, the then emperor Caligula. In 41 AD, Caligula was assassinated, and the guards immediately declared the elderly Claudius as the new emperor of Rome, shocking the world. Many people expected Claudius, who was 50 years old, to be a weak ruler, but he galloped through the treacherous land of Roman politics with astonishing insight. [10]
Sad Marriage
Claudius had three marriages before ascending to the throne. He had an unfulfilled marriage with Emilia Rebita when he was a minor, and later became engaged to Livia Midurina, but the woman passed away before the marriage. In the first real marriage, he married Ugulania, but divorced her due to her scandal and suspicion of murder. He married Elena Paitina again, and she gave birth to a daughter for him, but she died young. Soon after, they divorced due to a life dispute. The third marriage was with his cousin's daughter Valeria Mesarina. Mesarina gave birth to a daughter, Octavian, and a son, Brittanicus. Two years later, Claudius became emperor, making Mesarina the empress of the empire.
After becoming the queen, Mesarina's power and desires grew even greater. In order to ensure her son's future succession to the throne, she vigorously suppressed members of the royal family who had the opportunity to inherit, including Agrippina, the mother of future emperor Nero. In order to seize the mansion of the emperor's secretary Polibius, Mesalina found an opportunity to seek a rebellion and let Claudius execute her secretary.

In the year 48 AD, Mesalina took advantage of the emperor's absence from the city and held a wedding with her lover Gaius Silius. After hearing the news, Claudius was worried that besides his wife's infidelity, it was also a conspiracy to seize his own throne. He rushed back to Rome in a fit of anger and replaced his confidant Bruce as the new commander of the Guard. He ordered the arrest of the queen, Silius, and those attending the wedding. The obstruction of Emperor's Secretary Narchisus eliminated the opportunity for the Empress to personally plead with Claudius, forcing Mesalina to commit suicide. Silius, along with many implicated elders, senior officials, and military officers, were killed.
Agrippina, the daughter of Germanicus, entered the court as the emperor's niece to assist in handling Claudius's household chores. After the death of Mesalina, Claudius decided to remarry and was mediated by his secretary Pallas. In 49 AD, Agrippina married her uncle Claudius. She also adopted her son Nero (formerly known as Domitius), who was born from a past marriage. However, the final death of Claudius I is still suspected to be related to his empress, and this adopted Nero also became a famous tyrant in Roman history.

parent
Drusus: The biological father of Claudius I and the younger brother of Emperor Tiberius.
Little Antonia: The mother of Claudius I, gave birth to Germanicus and Claudius I. [2]
wife
Emilia Leipida: Unmarried wife, Claudius abandoned this marriage before marriage because both of her parents were political enemies of Augustus.
Livia Midurina: The fianc é e passed away on the day of the chosen wedding.
Prautia Ugulania: First wife.
Elena Paitina: Second wife.
Valeria Mesarina: Third wife, first empress.
Little Agrippina: Fourth wife, second queen.

children
Drusus: The son of Ugulania died unexpectedly as he was about to reach adulthood.
Claudia: The daughter of Ugulania, some say, was born through an affair between Ugulania and Claudius.
Antonia: And Paitina's daughter.
Octavian: With the daughter of Mesalina.
Brittanus: The son of Mesalina.
Nero: Adoptive son, son of Agrippina the Younger and her ex husband.

In terms of personality, Claudius is portrayed as a cowardly emperor in the works of Tacitus. This historian believes that Claudius was a typical example of an incompetent being manipulated by his own released slaves and wife. He is also promiscuous towards women. [1] In terms of family life, Roman historian Suetonius also described many of Claudius' misdeeds. He executed the husband of his eldest daughter and the fianc é e of his youngest daughter, with the former being stabbed to death in the arms of a child molester. [2] In criminal justice, he repeatedly expanded the scope of his sentence due to fear of others' conspiracies to seize power, and did not refuse to torture suspects for confession, as well as the cruel punishment of throwing rebels to be bitten to death by beasts. Therefore, his measures in this regard are not well regarded by future generations.
Due to Claudius unexpectedly becoming emperor in his middle age, he did not have any prepared talents for the ruling team before. Therefore, Claudius reused the released slaves from his own family as secretaries. Over time, Claudius's family became the core of national administration. His secretaries, Palas, Nalchisus, Polibius, and Calistus, all rapidly expanded their power during his reign. The wealth obtained by the historian from his secretary suggests that corruption and corruption in the inner court must be very serious.