Claudius and Nero Claudius 41-54 Nero 54-68

Claudius Marries his Cousin Messalina, wife of Claudius Her lover, Gaius Silius, “the best looking man in Rome” “It was as though the empire changed hands, since the imperial slaves, ex-slaves and furniture were found in his home”

Claudius Keeps Busy Introduces three new characters to the alphabet “The three letters that he invented become obsolete after his reign” Note the theme of Claudius’ legacy not lasting beyond his reign His son, Britannicus, does not succeed him to the throne

Messalina Comes to a Bad End While Claudius is at Ostia, Messalina marries Silius in public How could Messalina have done this? And why? “All that is left is for you to make a decent end” Claudius asks for more wine

Nero’s Mother Claudius marries his niece, Agrippina (II) Daughter of Agrippina (I) and Germanicus Her son, Claudius’s stepson, is Germanicus’s grandson He will become Nero, the next emperor

Agrippina Her son is adopted by Claudius Claudius’s son by Messalina, Britannicus, is afterwards treated as second-best Nero becomes consul and “Prince of Youth”

Murder of Claudius Agrippina decides to poison Claudius Too sudden – obvious Too slow – Claudius might come to his senses and restore Britannicus

Murder, Part II Claudius loves mushrooms Slow acting poison can allay suspicion A feather dipped in poison does the trick