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VII. Claudius
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134 VII Claudius Claudius (r. 41–54), Caligula’s successor, enjoyed a certain reputation as a good emperor in the Middle Ages because of his supposed attempt to punish the Jews for harassment of Christians by expelling them from Rome and, in Christian legend, for proposing to put a statue of Christ in the Pantheon along with the other gods from all parts of the Empire. The historic Claudius had an odd mixture of personal traits. He was easily the most scholarly of the early emperors and wrote several histories, including an autobiography, all of which are lost. His early reign achieved some military successes , particularly the addition of Mauretania to the empire. He personally took part in a Roman invasion of Britain, which solidified Roman rule in the southern part of the island. On the other hand, he allowed his favorites too much independence in making governmental decisions and led a disastrous family life. He married his own niece, Agrippina, which in itself shocked contemporaries. She persuaded him to set aside his own son, Britannicus, from possible succession and to adopt her son by a previous marriage, Nero. Claudius died unexpectedly in 54, thought to have been poisoned by Agrippina to make way for Nero (see next chapter). f austinian became a monk and his wife a nun, leaving Claudius to rule the Empire. Simon the Magician found out what had happened, and quickly betook himself to court, where he became a secret, close friend of the king. They both suffered greatly from his doing so. 135 Saint Peter preached God’s word, which angered the emperor greatly. Saint Peter instructed many people so that they turned to God. He would bid the dead arise and lepers be cleansed. His power would let those who lay stricken with gout get up. People learned about Saint Peter and how, if people came where he cast his shadow, they would all be cured of their afflictions immediately. Simon, that enemy of God, nursed a deep grudge against Saint Peter . He would often lie to the nobles and just as often deceive the king. He would fly up to the sky and transform his image while the king was looking on. The people began to affirm that they had never seen any deity so marvelous or who pleased them so well, but God was to change that in a hurry. When Lord Faustinian passed away, Simon the Magician advised Emperor Claudius to ban the Holy Apostle from the city of Rome. It angered the Romans that the emperor was following the magician so far. He also abused their women, and so they plotted against his life. He definitely held the Empire for thirteen years and eight months before the Romans poisoned him. VIII Nero Nero (r. 54–68) has served from his own century to our own as the embodiment of evil in a ruler. Claudius, who adopted Nero as a son, had died in 54, poisoned on the orders of Agrippina, his wife of five years and Nero’s mother. She had helped arrange her son’s acclamation as emperor by soldiers, to which the Senate gave its approval. Several years later, Nero saw to it that his mother boarded a boat that had been constructed so that it would fall apart. She saved herself by swimming, but was later killed by soldiers loyal to Nero. ...