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==Introduction==
The Emperors of Rome have fascinated people down through history. One of the most unusual Emperors was Claudius (10-54 AD). There are many different interpretations of this Emperor, who ruled the Roman world for 13 years. There are those who see him as a buffoon, or a tragic-comic figure and others who assert that he was a competent and even effective Emperor. This article will examine the career of Claudius. It will discuss his role in the expansion of the Empire, religious reforms and the administration of the Empire. It will also show his introduction of non-Italians into the Senate, changed the character of the eliteand that he was a largely successful Emperor.
[[File: Claudius One.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Statue of Claudius]]
==Background==
Rome in the first century AD was at the height of its powers. It controlled, either directly or indirectly much of Europe, large areas of the Middle East and tracts of North Africa. The Roman legions were the largest military force east of China and the Empire’s only real rival was the Parthian Empire. In, general the provinces were ably administered because the Empire devolved power to local elites. There was also a growing Romanization of the provinces. Rome was enjoying an uninterrupted period of peace, thanks to the achievements of Augustus, who established an Imperial system, with Republican trappings to appease the sensibilities of the senatorial elite, that provided stability to Rome and its provinces. The man usually regarded as the first Emperor also found the Julian-Claudian dynasty. Augustus had been able to hand over power to his step-son Tiberius who proved to be an able administrator if an autocratic ruler. However, under Tiberius, many members of the Julian-Claudian dynasty were either executed or exiled. After Tiberius died, he was succeeded by his grand-nephew, Gaius, better known as Caligula. He soon revealed himself to be unstable and he killed many members of the senatorial elite and continued the practice of Tiberius of killing or exiling his own relatives, to secure his person and power <ref> Tom Holland. Dynasty: the rise and fall of the House of Caesar (London, Abacus, 2016), p 113</ref> Rome was a formidable power, but the position of the Emperor was often precarious and threatened by constant conspiracies by senators, generals and the machinations of their own bodyguards the Praetorian Guard.
