CLAUDIUS I. ( TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS NERO Dust's: officia 1 ly Ti, CLAUDIUS C-ESAR GUSTAVUS ( iF.RMANICUS) ( D.C. I0-A.D. Ro man Emperor (A.D. 41-54). He was the youngest son of Nero Claudius Drusus, stepson of the Emperor Augustus, and was born at Lugdunum (Lyons), ti c. 10. Being naturally sickly and infirm, his education was neglected, or left to be eared for by women and freedmen. His sup posed imbecility saved him from the cruelty of Caligula : but Claudius. in his privacy, had made considerable progress in the study of his tory, and wrote in Latin and Greek several ex tensive works now lost. After the assassination of Caligula. Clandius was found V the soldiers in a corner of the palace, where, in dread, he had concealed himself. The Pretorians carried him forth, proclaimed him Emperor, and compelled his recognition by the Senate and many citizens who had hoped to restore the Republic. By his payment of the troops, who had raised him to the throne, Claudius 1. gave the first example of the baneful practice which subjected Rome to a mili tary despotism under the succeeding emperors. The first acts of his reign seemed to give promise of mild and just government ; but in the year 42, when a conspiracy against his life was detected, his timidity led him to yield himself entirely to the guidance of his infamous wife, Mcssalina, who, in concert with the freedmen Pallas and Narcissus, practiced cruelties and extortions without restraint. Claudius meanwhile lived in
retirement, partly occupied in studies, and ex pended P110111011s sums in building, especially in the construction of the famous Claudian .Aque duct, Aqua Claudia. This great work occupied 30,000 laborers (hiring 11 years. Abroad, the armies of Claudius were victorious. Mauretania was made a Roman province, the conquest of Britain was commenced under the personal com mand of the Emperor. and some progress was made in Germany. After the execution of Ares salina, Claudius married his niece, Agrippina (q.v.), who exercised as unlimited influence over him as had his former wife. Under her inspira tion he deprived his son Britannicus of the suc cession to the Imperial power and adopted Domitius Ahenobarbus Nero, the son of Agrip pina by Gnams Domains Ahenobarbus. When Claudius showed sonic inclination to deprive Nero of the succession Agrippina caused him to be poisoned with a dish of mushrooms. After his death, Claudius was deified, giving occasion to Seneca's bitter satire, Apocoloeyntosis, or Gourdificat ion.