-48 AD- Claudius had expanded the empire significantly during this time.
-Addition of multiple provinces:
-Noricum (modern-day Austria and Slovenia)- a tributary kingdom of Celtic hordes that was annexed by Claudius without resistance.
-Pamphylia (southern Asia Minor)- annexed in 43 AD without resistance.
-Lycia (southwest Asia Minor)- also annexed in 43 AD without resistance (and later merged with Pamphylia into the single province of Pamphylia et Lycia by Emperor Vespasian).
-Thrace- (modern-day southeast Bulgaria / northeast Greece / northwest Turkey)- annexed in 46 AD with little resistance.
-Mauretania Tingitana (modern day Morocco)- Mauretania was a client kingdom, but after the death of King Ptolemy (assassinated in Rome under orders by Caligula!) the Mauretanians became incredibly hostile to Rome (understandably so) so the region ended up being annexed by Rome and split into two provinces by Claudius (Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis) in order to pacify the region.
-Mauretania Caesariensis- (see above).
-Meanwhile, in the province of Judea, the Jews were becoming increasingly hostile towards Rome (especially with all of the drama with Caligula), and this would actually lead to an all-out rebellion against the empire in 66 AD.
-There were constant assassination attempts on Claudius' life, so he re-introduced the office of censor, whose role it was to be the moral police of the Senate, and was able to choose who was "moral enough" to be in the Senate.
-The censor was also in charge of the census of the citizens of the empire.
-Claudius actually took the position for himself when he created it.
-Those whom Claudius disliked or were too degenerate, Claudius would kick out of the Senate and replace with men loyal to him.
-Claudius also began to include non-Italians into the Senate as well, which pissed off conservative Italian elites.
-This was smart because it made the empire as a whole more stable.
-Claudius also appointed a dude named Lucius Vitellius Veteris as co-censor.
-His son, Aulus Vitellius, would eventually become emperor (princeps?) during the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors in 69 AD.
-Claudius also tried to drain the Fucine Lake (or Fucinus Lacus; located in modern-day central Italy), which would have provided a bunch of arable land and shit for the peninsula.
-The Fucine Lake was also annoying because it was a huge source of flooding and malaria as well.
-However, this project was a failure, and Agrippina used this as an excuse to try and fuck over Narcissus, whom she disliked and blamed for incompetence and even embezzlement (involving his co-management of the lake-draining operation).
-Narcissus was also an ally of Claudius' son, Brittanicus, whom Agrippina most certainly did not want to see on the throne, instead plotting for her own son, Nero, to be emperor instead.
-More info about Agrippina the Younger (AKA Agrippina Minor):
-Daughter of Agrippina the Elder and Germanicus; sister of Caligula.
-After Germanicus died, Agrippina had to live with her mom and then her grandmother (Livia).
-In 28 AD- forced to marry her relative Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (grandson of Octavia (Augustus' sister) and Marc Antony), who was apparently a major asshole.
-Their son was Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (AKA future emperor Nero!).
-39 AD- Agrippina the Younger (and others) was found guilty of plotting against Caligula, so she was exiled to the tiny island of Ponza (approximately 110 km west of Naples).
-Her son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (AKA Emperor Nero), was sent to live with his father's aunt (Domitia Lepida (the Younger), mother of Valeria Messalina) during this time.
-In 41 AD, Caligula was finally assassinated, so she was freed and reunited with her son.
-She ended up marrying the prominent politician Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus, a witty, intelligent, humble man (he was allegedly the dude behind the phrase "The world never knew a better slave, nor a worse master" in reference to Caligula and Tiberius).
-He died in 47 AD, and because Agrippina emerged filthy rich by inheriting his wealth, many believed that she had poisoned him.
-She was pushed by Pallas (Secretary of Treasury), whom she was also banging on the side, to go after her uncle, Claudius, for marriage (gross).
-Pallas also thought that if Agrippina was wife of Claudius, then he (Pallas) would be even more powerful!
-Surprisingly, Claudius was convinced to marry Agrippina, even though he knew it was fucked up! Apparently, he believed that it would bring the family together and was for the good of the empire, even if it was incestuous and weird.
-The Senate reluctantly agreed, but the Roman people were disgusted by this; Claudius' reputation was significantly damaged.
-49 AD- Claudius and Agrippina marry.
-Agrippina had gone through many image makeovers- sad victim, whore of the Roman elite, daughter of the loved Germanicus, etc.
-Finally, as empress we see her come into her own as a true Julio-Claudian woman- an evil matriarch!
-Agrippina's plans seemed to be to have her son Lucius (Nero) marry Claudius' daughter, Claudia Octavia, so her son would have a shot at being princeps. She also convinced Claudius to adopt Lucius (Nero) as his son!
-50 AD- Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus is officially adopted by Claudius, and his name changed is Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, or "Nero" for short.
-Agrippina worked hard to subtly purge those around Claudius and his personal council/advisers with her own allies instead.
-She even had Britannicus' tutor killed because he was outraged that Claudius had adopted Nero and chosen him to be co-successor with Britannicus (instead of just Britannicus as his sole heir).
-51 AD- Nero turned 14; by Roman standards, he was a man (and thus old enough to rule as princeps).
-Claudius' idea was that Nero would rule as princeps until Britannicus came of age, and then they were to rule the empire together (somehow).
-Agrippina knew that if Claudius were to die before Britannicus came of age, Nero would be able to seize power for himself and cut out Britannicus altogether.
-53 AD- Nero marries Claudia Octavia (now his step-sister).
-At this point, Claudius finally started to realize how much power he had given Nero instead of his own son, and also started to favor Britannicus as his rightful heir.
-However, it seems like at this point that it was simply too little, too late.
-54 AD- Claudius finally kicked the bucket. He was 63 years old; he had ruled the empire for 13 years.
-Of course, most historians believe that it's highly likely that he was poisoned by Agrippina!
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