Claudius
A physically infirm scholar who became an unlikely emperor, expanding Rome's reach and leaving a complex legacy of infrastructure and paranoia.
Born -10 (age 2036)·Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54·Birthday: August 1
Biography
Born in Gaul, Claudius entered a world of imperial power that initially dismissed him. Plagued by a limp and a stammer, his family saw him as an embarrassment, leaving him to immerse himself in history and law. This scholarly retreat proved his salvation. After the assassination of his nephew Caligula in 41 AD, the Praetorian Guard found the trembling Claudius hiding behind a palace curtain and declared him emperor. Against all expectations, he proved a capable administrator. He orchestrated the Roman conquest of Britannia, oversaw massive public works like the port at Ostia and new aqueducts, and championed the rights of provincials. Yet his reign was shadowed by the intrigues of his wives and freedmen, ending with his own probable poisoning, a final act of betrayal in the dynasty he struggled to control.
#1 When Claudius Was Born
The biggest hits of -10
Claudius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
-10Born
-5Started school
3Became a teenager
6Could drive
8Could vote
11Turned 21
20Turned 30
30Turned 40
40Turned 50
50Turned 60
60Turned 70
70Turned 80
2026Age 2036 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Oversaw the successful Roman invasion and annexation of Britannia in 43 AD.
- Ordered the construction of the Claudian Aqueduct and the massive new harbor at Portus.
- Extended Roman citizenship to many in the provinces, significantly expanding the empire's political base.
- Personally wrote extensive histories of the Etruscans and Carthaginians, though the works are now lost.
Did You Know?
He was the first Roman emperor born outside of Italy, in what is now Lyon, France.
He had a lifelong interest in linguistics and introduced three new letters to the Latin alphabet, which did not survive his death.
He wrote a historical defense of Cicero, whose murder he blamed on his own ancestor, Mark Antony.
The famous "Claudius" novels by Robert Graves were inspired by a surviving decree he wrote concerning the legal rights of sick slaves.
“Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.”
