Download Rummler Karl Rummler Ms. Bergen English 10

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Karl Rummler
Ms. Bergen
English 10-6
11 November 2011
Claudius the Emperor
As Rome was recovering from the maniacal rule by Caligula, it was up to Claudius Caesar
to bring back order and wealth throughout the Roman Empire. Claudius Caesar, the once
abhorred emperor of the Roman Empire showed his strength and Virtue through his military
glory. Although Claudius was demeaned by the Roman people because of his degrading
disabilities, he was able to bring back prosperity to Rome through the expansion of the Roman
Empire and celebrations of war.
Claudius the Emperor had suffered from several physical disadvantages that caused
Roman people to look down on him. He dragged his leg, drooled, and had a speech
impediment. Because of “the nature of this illness was a source of speculation” (Rice 198), the
people of Rome did not want to accept Claudius as the emperor. Since the people of Rome
detested Claudius’ debility they wouldn’t like anything he did. This made him unwanted in
political position because the Roman people thought that he was incapable of doing the
smallest task. However, because of these disabilities, Claudius wanted to demonstrate to the
people and senates that he was capable of being a worthy emperor of Rome. He was
determined to prove to everyone that he was right to be the emperor of Rome. Claudius
wanted to prove to the people worthy that one of the main reasons for why Claudius wanted to
expand the Roman Empire was to please the people, senates, and army. He surprised
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everybody when he did the unthinkable task of conquering Britain. The Roman people no
longer saw Claudius as the as the person “with a confused sound an in an unintelligible voice”
(Rice 199). Furthermore, Claudius would always strive for more in order to enhance his own
image and “above all the City of Rome itself” (Osgood 97). Claudius was looked down upon for
his entire life but, with great a single great achievement he was no longer known for his
detriment.
Although one of his predecessors, Augustus, warned all future emperors to no longer
conquer because Rome would become too large to control, Claudius Caesar wanted an
unyielding rule and took the risk and began his conquests. Since the Roman people despised
him for his debility, he took the large risk in expanding the Roman Empire. Claudius started his
conquest by annexing Lycia, Thrace and Judea, bringing an extensive amount of money to
Rome; however, this was not enough for Claudius. He would take on what Caligula had failed to
do. In AD 43, Claudius launched the longing war against Britain bringing him more support and
strength than ever. Claudius had assigned Aulus Plautius to be in charge of this great
expedition, because he was a relative with no pretensions to imperial power. Throughout the
war Claudius would only show up in order to take credit for significant victories and new
provinces. He would travel back to Rome and tell the people of his great victories in battle. In
result of the war, Claudius created a much stronger self-image amongst the soldiers, senators,
and the citizens. This established “Claudius’ reputation for posterity and secured a stronger
image for himself, as ruler of the world” (Osgood 87). He had expanded the empire more than
any other emperor since Augustus’ reign. With Claudius’ achievement of conquering Britain, he
brought copious amounts of wealth and luxury throughout Rome. Claudius was no longer seen
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as “Poor Uncle Claudius” (Graves 3), but as a great emperor who widely expanded the Roman
Empire.
Claudius Caesar used the money from the conquests into rebuilding Rome. He rebuilt
roads, aqueducts, temples, and the Theatre of Pompey. In addition to rebuilding, Claudius had
built many victory monuments. He built many statues in remembrance of the great decisive
victory of Britain. Claudius once again improved his image “by including new statues in the
great August Forum). One of the main monuments built my Claudius was the Victory Arch. The
Victory Arch sent a message to all the people of Rome stating that we had conquered Britain
and won the spoils of war. The Arch sent messages of individual military achievements and
battles. From the war there were a vast amount of celebrations. There were more chariot races,
gladiator fights, and public plays. Throughout the entire period after the war Claudius tried to
increase his self image and keep the Roman people happy. The people of Rome thought “the
empire was equivalent to the cosmos” (Osgood 105). Because of the celebrations the Roman
people didn’t think about anything negative at the time and were distracted by the on going
festivals. As Claudius paused all that he was doing, the people of Rome would celebrate in the
streets. In addition to celebrations Claudius was able to reduce the tax on Roman citizens with
the abundance of wealth. The people praised Claudius for this, because they knew the tax
“though represented as a voluntary gift, the crowns perhaps irked provincials, but did also
present an occasion to display loyalty to Rome” (Osgood 101). The people “showed him to be in
the mold of Augustus” which was what Claudius strived for in order to show his power within
the empire.
Under Claudius Caesars’ leadership the Roman Empire flourished with wealth and
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celebrations of war. He shocked all of Rome from his military glory and to the reconstructions
of Rome and despite his disabilities Roman people finally accepted Claudius as Emperor.
Claudius, once the laughing stock of Rome, became one of the greatest Emperors of Rome. He
had shown to all of Rome what he was capable of and how he was fit to be the Emperor of
Rome. Claudius Caesar had transformed the Roman Empire back into its wealthy and
prosperous state.
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Works Cited
Jane E. Rice. The Emperor with the Shaking Head: Claudius’ movement disorder. J R Soc Med
198-201. Volume 93. The Journal of the Royal society of Medicine.
Claudius Caesar Image and Power in the early Roman Empire. Josiah Osgood. Cambrige
University Press, New York 2011.
I, Claudius. Robert Graves. New York, Penguin Books, 1978.
Roman History. Cassius Dio. Leob Classical Library edition, 1924. Vol. VII.
Claudius. Garret G. Fagan. Pennsylvania State university. An Online Encyclopedia of Roman
Emperors.