Claudius, Freedmen And Equites

Front 1

Suet. Claud 24

Back 1

• He have the consular regalia even to the second grade of stewards. If any refused senatorial rank, he took from them that of the knight"

Front 2

Suet. Claud 28

Back 2

• Felix, "giving him command of infantry cohorts and cavalry squadrons and the governorship of Judea"

•"firmest devotion" for Narcissus, "his secretary", and Pallas, "his book keeper" "encouraged the senate to honour with large gifts of money and the insignia of questors and praetors as well"

Front 3

Suet. Claud 29

Back 3

• "Claudius fell so deeply under the influence of his freedmen and wives that he seemed to be their servant rather than their emperor"

• He "distributed public offices, army commands, pardons, and punishments according to their wishes"

• "He executed 35 senators and 300 Roman equites"

Front 4

Tacitus Annals: 11.29

Back 4

• Narcissus, Pallus and Callistus conspire to use "secret threat" to prevent the marriage of Messalina and Silius

• Palus and Callistus back out. The position of a powerful freedman is vulnerable depends on the emperor's favour

• Nacissus chooses to continue, if you are daring rewards can follow

Front 5

Tacitus Annals: 11.30-33

Back 5

• Narcissus first bribes two mistresses of Claudius to play informant

• 11.31 Then Claudius brings forward his powerful friends, who admit she plans to wed Silius. He asks repeatedly if he is still emperor

• Messalina takes action, uses vestial virgins ect, begs for mercy • Vestial virgin forces tribunal, Silius is executed along with many others • Messalina "was struggling for life", manages to get an audience with Claudius for the next day and Claudius begins to soften, Narcissus knows what will happen to him and has Messalina attacked • 11.38, Messalina is killed, Narcissus is "voted the decorations of the questorship" • He is "in the height of his power above Pallas and Callistus"

Front 6

Tacitus Annals: 11.34-37

Back 6

Vestial virgin forces tribunal, Silius is executed along with many others

•Messalina "was struggling for life", manages to get an audience with Claudius for the next day and Claudius begins to soften, Narcissus knows what will happen to him and has Messalina attacked

Front 7

Tacitus annals: 11.38

Back 7

• 11.38, Messalina is killed, Narcissus is "voted the decorations of the questorship" • He is "in the height of his power above Pallas and Callistus"

Front 8

Pliny Natural History

Back 8

• Callistus was so wealthy used onyx stone for 30 columns in his banqueting hall, (only 4 in theatre)

• Pallas given an honorary praetorship and a grant of 15 million sesterces, sent back with "the triumphal fasces to the place they came with chalked feet" (chalked feet is a reference to how slaves' feet are whitened at auction)