This behaviour ended when Caligula allowed him to become a consul. Some historians believed that this move may have saved his life once the purge of Caligula's rule begin. Once Caligula was assassinated, Claudius became the emperor. Upon becoming emperor, he was the very last adult man of his family line. He did not have a large amount of experience when it came to politics. However, he was able to engage in a number of good public works and was also known to be an excellent administrator. It was during the reign of Claudius that the Roman Empire reached Great Britain. He became very interested in Roman laws and was present at all public trials. Claudius was a man who was constantly under threat of assassination during his reign. A number of his senators were killed, and he himself would eventually die under suspicious circumstances.
History described Claudius as having a number of afflictions. His nose would run when he became excited, and he often stuttered when he spoke. However, his problems were more mental rather than physical. Some have said that Claudius promoted his afflictions in order to keep himself from being assassinated. Historians today still debate the exact cause of his ailments. While some have said that he may have suffered from infantile paralysis, others have said that cerebral palsy is the most likely cause of his physical problems.
He seemed to be much more generous than Caligula. However, he was also known to have a temper and he even apologized for it in public.
Many historians believe that Claudius was killed as a result of poison. He died after eating dinner, and there is debate about who is responsible. Some have said that his wife Agrippina was the most likely candidate. Some historians even believe that he was not murdered at all. If he was indeed murdered, the reasoning behind it is not well known.
Original Authors: Stephen Palmer
Edit Update Authors: Ryan Norfolk
Updated On: 02/02/2007
