Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus (10 BC - AD 54) became the unlikely 4th emperor of the Julio-Claudian line after the violent murder of his nephew Gaius (Caligula). The reign of Claudius is important for several reasons. He stabilized the political environment by including provincials in the Senate rolls (even though he was vilified for it), and proved an effective re-establishment of the imperial line after the debacle of Caligula. He made several provincial annexations, including the conquest of Britain which brought vital new sources of precious metals under Roman control. Despite these positives, depending on one's perspective, of course, he was the first emperor to rise to his position through assassination and praetorian political intervention. Once the precedent was set, it became a regular occurrence throughout the principate period. Also of important note, Claudius was terribly slandered by the ancient sources, not only for his physical characteristics and mannerisms, but for his political activities. He propped up favorite free or freedmen into important positions of government authority and, at least on occasions, fell under the influence of various people of doubtful political agendas. Perhaps worst of all, Claudius ignored his own son in the imperial hierarchy, favoring the son of his 4th wife and niece, Agrippina. Claudius gave the world Nero, perhaps the worse of the Roman emperors, apparently from his own free choice, rather than continue the Julio-Claudian line with some semblance of stability.
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