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Claudius - Revision Booklet
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A revision booklet, detailing the reign of Claudius, including: his accession, his relationship to the plebeian class, and his use of freedmen.
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ClaudiusRevision Worksheet
Suetonius
× He was born after this period, writing during the Flavian
dynasty. However, his position as an imperial
secretary, and director of the archive, would have
granted him access to exclusive, existing literary
accounts.
× Suetonius enjoyed scandal, often sensationalising his
work, and making it more salacious.
Opinion on Claudius:
× He is largely critical of Claudius; in particular, claiming
his was “deeply under the influence” of his wives and
freedmen. However, he does praise his invasion of
Britain.
× Similarly to the other ancient sources, Suetonius
would have been biased and mocking against
Claudius, due to his apparent disability.
Dio
× He was also born after this period, during the third
century.
× Dio was critical of those with absolute power, as he
was a part of the Senate.
Opinion on Claudius:
× Claudius is presented as manipulated, oblivious, and
nervous, saying that he “exercised great caution in
everything,” and that he did not feel particularly
confident.
× However, Dio was initially praise the “proper manner,”
in which Claudius acted, whilst he was “in control of
himself.”
Pliny the Elder
× He was a contemporary geographer; due to his focus
on botany, geology, minerology, and natural science,
Pliny lacked any considerable political bias.
Opinion on Claudius:
× He is praising of the administrative work, including the
completion of the aqueducts and the attempt to drain
the Fucine Lake, that was carried out during the
Claudian era.
, His accession
Author Source Quotation Evaluation
Reference
Suetonius Claudius, 10-11. “Claudius became emperor, at the age of fifty, Unreliable: This is source is
by an extraordinary accident. . . [He] found somewhat contradictory. Suetonius is
himself acclaimed emperor.” emphasising the hesitance of
Claudius, but continuing to show him
“At last he allowed the soldiers to swear as being influential, at the start of his
allegiance to him.” reign, suggests that he is trying to
make Claudius appear weaker than
“No sooner had Claudius’ power been he actually was.
established than he gave priority to the task of
obliterating all records of those two days when Reliable: Suetonius is a known critic
there had been talk of a new constitution. He of Claudius; his ability to show him as
ordered a general amnesty. . . he made the an instantly decisive emperor does
Senate decree his grandmother Livia divine suggest some larger reliability.
honours. . . He also never missed a chance of
keeping green the fame of his brother
Germanicus.”
Dio History of Rome, “He did a number of things in a proper Unreliable: Dio was a Senator, who
60:3.1.7. manner, when he was free from the disliked the absolution of imperial
shortcomings that I have just mentioned and power; thus, he wanted to present
in control of himself.” Claudius as being weak, and lacking
“control of himself.”
“He did not feel particularly confident. He
exercised great caution in everything.” Reliable: Dio is supported by
Suetonius, by showing both the good
“He abolished the charge of maiestas, not just side of his early reign, and his overall
for treasonous writing, but also for a hesitance.
treasonous act.”
Josephus Jewish “There was a sharp division of opinion Reliable: Josephus was a
Antiquities, 227- between the people and the Senate. The contemporary author. Furthermore,
236. senators longed for the return to their former having been forced out of the public
status. . . [the people] were delighted by the eye, Claudius was well-learned and
kidnap of Claudius.” studious.
Jewish “There was none who was his superior either
Antiquities, 158- in distinction or his ancestry or in his own
164. learned studies.”
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