A Vay and Welcome to Empress of Rome, a podcast series looking at the rulers of the ancient Roman Empire.

I'm your host Matt Smith and with me as always is Dr.

Eannan Evans, a lecturer in ancient Mediterranean studies at Latrobe University.

This is episode X-V-I. Claudius, the unlikely emperor.

With Caligula's brief rule leaving the Giulio Claudians in a sorry state, the candidates

for the next emperor were a bit thin on the ground. So almost by default it went to the person who never

thought he'd find himself in that position. Caligula's forgotten uncle Claudius.

He's Rianna Evans.

Claudius was born in Gaul in 10 bc.

He's part of the Imperial Family.

Obviously Augustus is Emperor at this point.

Augustus has been in power since 27 bc. He's his great uncle.

Great uncle.

Augustus' wife, Livia, is his grandmother. So he's firmly sealed within that family.

His grandmother on the other side is Octavia who is the

sister of Augustus and his grandfather on that side is Mark Antony. So it's

pretty prestigious stock. He's born in Gaul because his father,

Drusus, who's Livia's son, is on campaign much of the time. He was very well liked at Drusus,

very well liked N

well regarded for being a popular and successful military figure

and he's the father of Germanicus who we know, is incredibly popular.

Claudius's sister was Lavella,

...