The senate had no other alternative to Claudia, in the end the senates’ opinion of Claudia was irrelevant and it was he army that decided the issue. From the senates’ point of view any man who had the support of the army and therefore the person who could take Rome by force seemed suddenly to become a good choice. Claudia wanted to rule well and in many respects he achieved this desire, His rule is contemptuous when it is not hostile, and depicts him as the victim of unscrupulous exploitation.
Even though the Senate had been isolated from any decision making process, he showed them respect and dropped the trials in the Senate and enhanced his popularity by giving gladiatorial shows and abolished Caucus’ new taxes. He asserted his authority in other ways; senatorial was one of them. Claudia reformed the senatorial roll and he extended the membership of the senatorial class to prominent Gaelic noblemen, this speaks to the idea of Romanization.
He was firm faith the provincial governors, prosecuting the corrupt and ensuring those that were retiring from office would have a period before their next posting where they could be open to prosecution. Claudia also returned the uranium (treasury) to the squatters, but in order to ensure proper financial management extended their Office to three years. He also prevented soldiers from taking part in the daily salutation at the houses of senators, which was a measure designed to prevent soldiers from becoming clients Of senators.
Claudia also increased the authority of the equestrian procurators. Claudia reign saw a thorough reform of the Roman aristocracy in the context of enchantments in the career of equestrians and the further development of freedmen. Gauss suggests that the treasury was bankrupt by the young emperors mismanagement and decadent lifestyle, However, there is little indication in the source that at the beginning of Claudia’ reign that this is the case.
Throughout Claudia reign the financial stability of the Roman Treasury is worth its weight in gold, He promised the Praetorian Guard lavish donations (gifts), but every year they became smaller. This was to remind them and the senate of the crucial role that they played in elevating him to power. During his reign he commenced two large building projects ? the Harbor Costa and the draining of the F-cine Lake, He was fond of games and put on spectacular shows for special occasions, which infuriated the senate as it was not socially acceptable for the emperor to be associating so closely with his people.
Claudia funded military campaigns in Britain and Germany and all this was done while withdrawing the taxes that had been imposed by Gauss. SUPPORTING QUOTES “As soon as his power was firmly established, he considered it of foremost importance to obliterate the memory Of the two days when men had thought of changing the form of government” (Situations Life of Claudia 11. 1). “Much has been written about Claudia’ government and his supposed reliance on his wives and freedom. All the ancient sources comment on this reliance” (R.
Olsson Aspects of Roman History: DADA. 117). “Claudia like Gauss and Tuberous fore him, found co-operation with the senate difficult and he too sought a new method of government, but Claudia’ solution appears much more conservative than those adopted by his predecessors” (R. Olsson Aspects of Roman History: DADA- 117). ‘Victim of unscrupulous exploitation by his ambitious freedmen and scheming wives, particularly his third wife Mescaline, who was put to death in B AD, and her successor Grapping the younger (H.
H Seculars From the Karachi to Nero), CHANGING ROLE OF PRI NECKS -CLAUDIA’ VIEW The role of princes was very much the leader of government who could, largely, CT without reference to the senate. He was emperor: commander-in-chief. Thus in relying on the imperial court, the Senate was isolated from any decision making process. However it was said that Claudia always treated the Senate courteously. Claudia saw his position and role as Someone who was promoting a stable and efficient government.
This manifested itself in the development Of the imperial court. While this had always been influential, during the reign of Claudia, imperial woman and imperial freedmen wielded considerable influence. DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERIAL CULT Claudia sought to maintain a balance, almost an Augustan approach to ruler. Worship; he did not approach ruler-worship in the same way as Gauss. He did not actively portray himself as a god on earth.
Claudia saw imperial cult as a means of mediating control and change, The temple at Conundrum in Roman Britain is an example of this. In regards to religious matters, his attitude was close to that of Tuberous; conservative, tolerant and explicitly partial to Roman ideals, The existence of the imperial cult in the provinces was permissible as endorsed the supremacy of Roman power hut he was cautious about it lest he offend his interpolates.
For example the capture tooth British town of Conundrum in DADA by Claudia’ forces and the construction of the temple of Claudia six years into Roman conquest, saw Roman authority established at a significant site for the Britons, CHANGING IMAGE PRINCES To ensure legitimacy Vass an important part of the image of the Princes_ Claudia came to power through an assassination, and what is certain is that the Praetorian Guard had pushed him to power without senatorial consent. This meant that he needed to appear legitimate to Roman society.
Imperial image was Hereford an important part of this policy Claudia had made a declaration as to what the basis of the Prince’s authority actually was as he came into power via the military. Tactics: k He depicts Claudia as a passive pawn or idiot. * unaware Of machinations Of his Wives and freedmen and consequently descended into tyranny and despotism. Situations: * Follows a similar approach to Tactics: His depiction Of Claudia is Of a ridiculous figure who has little or no understanding of what is going on.
NERO NERO AND THE SENATE At first Owner’s relationship with the senate was substantial, this was because of he influence Seneca and Burrs had over Nero. Nero insured that there were no factorial disturbances which had marred the reigns tot his predecessors and which might cause instability between the imperial court and the senate. With Seneca to advise him, Nero appeared to have tried to win over the senate within his first years of reign, He allowed them considerable freedom and they responded with a bout of legislation, mainly regarding administrative matters.
He promised to reverse the unpopular measures that Claudia had introduced and that the senate would exercise its traditional functions that there would be o treason trials; the freedmen would be controlled; that he would not conduct all the judicial business as Claudia had done and that he would model his leadership on that of Augustus. He allowed the Senate to intervene in a dispute between a tribune and a praetor in addition to a quarrel between various members Of the senate and the administrator Of the treasury, Helium’s Princes.
Initially, Nero rejected offers apostates and titles, and declined the honor Of a perpetual consulship. After the murder Of Grapping in AD 59, the death of Burrs in DADA and Séance’s retirement, Owner’s relations with the senate deteriorated. However, Nero was still in power – even though he committed one of the most unforgivable crimes, Matricide. Nero became a focus of opposition when he walked out of the senate when it accepted Scraping’s murder.
