Claudius

Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus is the emperor of Rome who provides the voice of this novel. Before his accession, the public believes Claudius to be a crippled, stammering idiot; however, he reveals himself to have a sharp mind and intends to reform Rome. He abolishes many of Tiberius and Caligula's decrees and attempts to reform Rome, governmentally, financially and socially. Claudius is a very busy official and allows his wife, Messalina, to do many of his jobs. Claudius loves Messalina and is long unaware of her infidelities and immoral actions, such as accepting bribes for citizenships.

Claudius survives his relatives and becomes emperor at fifty years old. His friend, Herod Agrippa, congratulates him as he mourns the former emperor, Caligula. Claudius does not want to be emperor; he believes in restoring the Republic, but there is no one else to clean up the mess that Caligula left...