Notes for Emperor Tiberius Claudius CAESAR: He ruled from AD 41 - 54. He had physical infirmities and apparent weakness of intellect, he was kept in retirement. So he became a friend of freedmen, or former slaves. (mostly Greek or another Province). In AD 37, Caligula came to power, and gave Claudius several jobs. Even though not brilliant, he was shrewd. In the early part of his reign, he took over Mauretania in AD 43. He then also took part in the expedition to Britain and gained control of the south of the island. He also made Judea a province once more in AD 44. He was the very first Roman before or since Julius CAESAR who dared to land on the island. Within a few days, without bloodshed or battle, he received the surrender of the greater part of the islands. He also annexed to the Empire the Isles of Orkney. Returning home in just six months, he granted his son the title of Britannicus. This campaign was brought to a close in the fourth year of his reign, in the year AD 46. Claudius then sent Vespacian to capture the Isle of Wight, which he accomplished. Claudius went back to the liberal policies of Julius Caesar, despite opposition of the Senators. He also developed his own personal service. He set up a definite scale of salaries, and increased the power of his freedmen. They were his personal servants, but just as in England centuries later, they held powerful positions and earned great rewards and honor. He also enjoyed acting as judge, and so held court often. In his later years, however, his rule degenerated, and he came completely under the power of his favorites and the women in his life. His third wife, Messalina, actually married someone else while married to him, and was executed. The he married his niece, Agrippina, which shocked Roman society. Claudius wrote several historical works, including his own autobiography, but all of them are lost. (SOURCE: "Encyclopedia Britannica", 1955 & "Bede's "History of the English church and People", pp. 41 - 43).
Children of Emperor Tiberius Claudius CAESAR and AGRIPINNA are:
Emperor Tiberius Claudius CAESAR
Notes for Emperor Tiberius Claudius CAESAR: