Claudius: The Successful Roman Emperor Who Had Cerebral Palsy

Growing up in the shadows of more capable and ambitious relatives, Claudius was largely ignored by the Roman aristocracy. His health issues, though perhaps a result of childhood illness, kept him out of sight and out of mind during the brutal purges of Tiberius and Caligula. This absence from political life proved advantageous, as it spared him the many assassination attempts that claimed the lives of his more prominent family members. In a twist of fate, following the assassination of Caligula in 41 AD, the Praetorian Guard, upon finding him hiding in fear, declared Claudius the new emperor. As the only remaining adult male in his family, Claudius ascended to the throne, despite his perceived weakness.

Despite initial doubts about his ability to rule, Claudius quickly proved to be a capable and intelligent administrator. He worked tirelessly to stabilize the Roman Empire, which had suffered under the excesses of Caligula’s reign. One of his first actions was to restore the empire’s finances, expanding the imperial bureaucracy to include freedmen, and re-establishing order in the imperial administration.