Claudius

Kristin Stratman Word count: 351Claudius

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, more commonly known as Claudius, was one of the greatest rulers because he rose above being looked at as weak, he tried and succeeded in making Rome a better place to live, and he is well known even today. was born in Gaul around 10 b.c. His uncle, Tiberius was the current emperor of Rome, and though Claudius himself was more rightfully in line as heir than his nephew, Gaius, he was overlooked as a contestant for being emperor, for he was seen as weak and unintelligent because of his noticeable limp and humiliating stutter. So, when Tiberius died in 37 a.d., Gaius took over as emperor, but was soon recognized as being cruel and partially insane (he tried to appoint his horse as consul), so his own guards plotted against him and killed him. This left fifty-one year old Claudius as the only viable choice remaining of successors, and he was appointed as emperor in 41 a.d.

Claudius was soon creating and passing important laws, completing the Claudiun aqueduct, and building forts and lighthouses to strengthen the army and navy. He took over Britain in 43 a.d., an immense feat for Rome, as it had been attempted before. Claudius also took over parts of North Africa and Turkey. However in 48 a.d. his own wife, Messallina, got married behind Claudius's back to the consul, Silius as part of a conspiracy to overthrow Claudius, so he had them executed and got married, instead, to his niece, Agrippina. She then persuaded Claudius to adopt her son Nero as his son, then had him poisoned so Nero could take the throne.

Claudius was a great ruler in the sense that he rose above the unfitting labels placed upon him as being stupid and weak, and for accomplishing many tasks towards the bettering and expansion of Rome and it's army. Though he was looked at as under-equipped for the job of being Consul, he overcame his barriers and made it as one of the most famous Roman emperors of all time, and a great ruler overall.

Sources: Roman Colosseum. "Claudius." Accessed April 9, 2012. http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-emperors/claudius.htm. BBC. "Claudius (10 BC- 54 AD)." Accessed April 9, 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/claudius.shtml. Fagan, Garrett G. "Claudius (41-54 ad)." DeIimperatoribus Romanis. Accessed April 9, 2012. http://www.roman-emperors.org/claudius.htm.