Ancient History: Roman Emperors

This BBC webpage provides a brief profile of the Emperor Claudius I, who added Britain to the Roman Empire and was succeeded by Nero.

This webpage from Pennsylvania State University provides a biography of the emperor Claudius with helpful footnotes.

This page from the Classics Unveiled website looks in detail at the people (Augustus, Claudius and Nero) and events (Trajan's Wars and the invasion of Britain) of the Roman Empire between 27BC and 102AD. It links to earlier and later historical information on rulers and emperors, timelines, historical sites and a quiz.

Entry from the Encyclopedia Britannica on Emperor Claudius. This is the more detailed version of the Encyclopedia that the College subscribes to. Therefore you must be logged in to Pymble to view this entry.

Explore eight surprising facts about the life of Claudius. Article from the History Channel.

Article from History Today Magazine.
Claudius died on 13 October AD 54. Roman opinion was convinced that Agrippina had poisoned him.

Historians have divergent interpretations of Claudius, who ruled the Roman world for 13 years. While some view him as a buffoon and tragic-comic figure, others assert that he was a competent and effective Emperor. Who was Claudius?
From DailyHistory.org

A biography from Thougtco.com.
Especially useful for primary written sources.

Written by John Aveline.

Written by Chris Thomas

Written by Giles Standing

Podcast from La Trobe University.
With Caligula's brief rule leaving the Julio-Claudians in a sorry state, there isn't much of the imperial family left to become emperor. The title goes to his uncle Claudius mostly be default.

Podcast from La Trobe University.
The new emperor Claudius has a strong grounding as a scholar, but little experience as a soldier. He turns his attention to a land that has remained virtually untouched since Caesar's time: Britannia.

Podcast from La Trobe University.
Claudius brings his own style to the role of emperor which makes him enemies in both his family and the senate.

The Partial Historians Podcast.
With Messalina dead, Claudius begins the process that any good Roman man would: choosing a new wife. As emperor, Claudius just happens to be the most eligible bachelor in town. He has a pick of the ladies and decides on Agrippina.

The Partial Historians Podcast.
Despite the harsh assessment of his own family, there comes a time when there is no one else for the role of emperor and we see him rise from the shadows of his own family to take on a public role.
In this episode, we consider Claudius’ less than illustrious beginnings and the progression of his career into Rome’s top job.
Claudius’ expansionist policy, his relationship with the Praetorian guard, and the focus of the sources on his freedmen, can be found in this episode: