Download Adam Hofman - 2011

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Adam Hofman
Ms. Bergen/ Mrs. Downer
English 10/ Latin 2
28 October 2011
The Success of Claudius Caesar
Before the end of Augustus Caesar’s rule, he said not to expand the Roman
Empire, otherwise, it would be too hard to control. For Claudius Caesar, however,
expanding the empire would mean an increase of image and power for his title. The
emperor Claudius Caesar, during his rule, was able to conquer Britain, adding territory
for the empire and also built architecture with inscriptions in different parts of the empire
dedicated to his victory.
In the year A.D. 43, Verica, ruler of southern Kingdom in Britain and old ally of
Rome, was in trouble. Catuvellanian princes from upper Britain had invaded his
territory, so Verica fled to Gaul for help from the Romans. The emperor Claudius heard
of this and asked the Senate permission to invade. Claudius thought of this as an
opportunity to expand the empire. Not only would he rid the kingdom controlled by the
princes, but he would also be recognized as a great emperor and gain popularity from the
Roman people and the Senate.
Claudius called on his friend and general, Aulus Plautius, to lead the invasion. He
had four legions ready and sent Plautius with three to Britain. Claudius didn’t personally
come with his fourth legion until the end. Plautius then set out and landed somewhere
near Chinchester (See Figure 1). Cassius Dio, one of the known historians of this event,
recalls a strong resistance from the two princes, Togodumnus, and Caratacus, against the
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invasion (Bird 93). The main plan for Roman armies was usually to be on the offence.
Plautius made sure that he defeated every enemy resisting the invasion. Fortunately for
the Romans, both princes were fighting in the resistance. The Romans defeated both
armies, “First Caratacus and then Togodumnus” Dio recalls (Bird 93). Caratacus, being
defeated first, fled to Wales and was no longer part of the invasion. Togodumnus,
however, fled and regrouped with more Britons. Plautius, now stationed around
Silchester, marched to the river Thames were Togodumnus had formed another army.
The Romans successfully defeated the Britons again, driving them across the river. Dio
says, “Togodumnus had died about this time, but the Britons, far from yielding, joined
together all the more firmly to avenge his death…”(Bird 93).
Plautius, after hearing this, advanced no further. Instead, he called for Claudius
with the last legion. As he was waiting for Claudius’ 4th legion, Plautius had to make
sure that he wasn’t attacked by any Britons. When Claudius finally came with his 4th
legion, Plautius, and the rest of his three legions, left and marched through the Thames,
defeated the Briton’s accumulated force, and took Camulodiunum. Cassius Dio says that
Claudius Caesar only stayed for 16 days, long enough for him to claim a military victory.
During the 16 days, Claudius spent nine or ten days in Camulodiunum. According to
Dio, “He won over many peoples, some by diplomacy, some by force of arms, and he
was saluted imperator several times… He confiscated the weapons of these people and
handed the tribes over to Plautius, and left him with orders to subdue the remaining
regions” (Bird 102).
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Figure 1: Key: B: Braughing; C: Colchester; Ca: Canterbury; Ch: Chichester; Ci: Cirencester; F: Fishbourne;
Fi: Fingringhoe; I: Iping; P: Pulborough; R: Richborough; Re: Reculver; S: Silchester; St: Staines; V: Verulamium; W: Winchester.
Principle rivers are shown, and the line of the Wantsum channel between Richborough and Reculver is marked. The extent of the
Weald Clay is shown by heavy lines. Some Roman roads are shown. The roads that later served London, from Canterbury,
Chinchester, Braughing and Verulamium are shown by dashed lines. This is not, however, intended to imply that the other roads
shown were necessarily in existence as Roman roads in the earliest years of the conquest (Bird 96).
After everything was settled, Claudius ensured that the enemy knew that they
were conquered and that he successfully brought Britain territories into the Roman
Empire. So, he built the Claudian Arch, which inscripted his victory against the Britons.
He then hosted a parade for the British chiefs and aristocracy, and also in Rome when he
returned.
This successful conquest of Britain was a great triumph for Claudius Caesar. Not
only did he do something spectacular during his rule, which even Augustus Caesar hadn’t
done, but he also gained recognition among the Roman people and the Senate.
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When the emperor Claudius Caesar returned to Rome, he was well celebrated.
However, the way he did become well known was by making the Claudian Arch, also
known as the Cult of Victoria Britannica.
The victory arch was used by him for any parades he would do for the Roman
people. He and his army would parade under the arch as the crowds cheered; this
military show of power was also used in modern society. After great wars (ex.: World
War II), generals or leaders who won would parade through the city. Claudius, however,
used the victory arch, which had inscriptions or pictures about the conquest.
Claudius didn’t just build an arch in Britain and one in Rome. He also had
inscriptions carved on statue bases or pillars, which also talk about his victory. These he
placed in Roman provinces and colonies all over the empire, which would spread the
word of his great accomplishments and titles. These places (that are known) are
Narbonne, Pisidian Antioch, Rome (Palatine), Rome (Julian Basilica), Lyon, Roselle, and
Corinth. As an example of one inscription, the one in Narbonne says: “For the welfare …
(and) victory of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, pontifex maximus, with
tribunician power for the 3rd time, (acclaimed) Imperator for the 5th time, Father of his
Country, in accordance with a vow undertaken, Cascellia Secunda (set this up)”
(Standing 281). At this time, when the inscription was made, Claudius had been holding
tribunician power for the third time. It also said that he was hailed Imperator for the fifth
time. Cassius Dio comments, “he won over numerous tribes, in some cases by
capitulation, in others by force, and was saluted as Imperator several times, contrary to
precedent; for no man may receive this title more than once for one and the same war”
(Standing 281).
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One of the inscriptions, on a slab probably from an altar, in Rome (Palatine)
says: “For the welfare and return and victory of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus
Germanicus, pontifex maximus, with tribunician power for the 5th time, (acclaimed)
Imperator for the 11th time, consul designate for the 4th time… in accordance with a vow
undertaken by Sulpicius…”(Standing 282). Claudius was said to have held the title of
Imperator for the 11th time and tribunician power for the 5th time from around January to
December A.D. 45. The reference of Claudius as ‘consul designate’ dates around A.D.
47. The vow by Sulpicius was for the ‘welfare and return” of Claudius. A highlight by
Suetonius says, “Sailing from Ostia, Claudius was twice nearly wrecked off the Ligurian
coast, and again near the Stoechades Islands” (Standing 282).
Another inscription by Claudius Caesar, and the clearest example that speaks to
the victory and his personified goddess Victoria Britannica, was the statue base built in
Corinth. It’s said that this inscription of the Cult of Victoria Britannica was also linked to
the Imperial Cult at Corinth, designed to honor the emperor (Claudius), and to recognize
his victory over Britain. It was used for the anniversary of Claudius’ victory held by
Tiberius Claudius Dinippus. “…(set up this statue) to Tiberius Claudius Dinippus, son of
Publius, of the tribe Fabia, duovir, duovir quinquennalis, augur, priest of Victoria
Britannica, military tribune of Legion VI Hispaniensis, praefectus fabrum three times
curator of the grain supply, agonothetes of the Neronea Caesarea and of the Isthmian and
Caesarean games” (Standing 284). All of these inscriptions were in public so that the
citizens could read it and appreciate what Claudius did as they walked by. It wasn’t until
A.D. 143 when the Cult became obscure.
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Overall, during his rule, Claudius Caesar was well known for his famous invasion
of Britain. It is also clear that he went from a low and unpopular emperor to a great
leader who accomplished something that most great emperors before him did not.
Making the victory inscriptions was his way of making sure that everyone would
remember him in society throughout the ages. Society in Britain, even to this day, is
influenced by the Romans because of the great success of the Emperor Claudius.
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Works Cited
Bird, D.G. “The Claudian Invasion Campaign Reconsidered.” Oxford Journal of
Archaeology 19 (2000): 91-104.
Frere, Sheppard and Fulford, Michael. “The Roman Invasion of A.D. 43.” Britannia 32
(2001): 45-55.
Osgood, Josiah. Claudius Caesar, Image and Power in the Early Roman Empire.
Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Standing, Giles. “The Claudian Invasion of Britain and the Cult of Victoria Britannica.”
Britannia 34 (2003): 281-288.
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