Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 38
Claudius the second and his Brother Quintillus.
CLAVDIVS was appointed Emperor by the will of |Tantum ad arma & magnifica facinora promptus ac paratus, quantum alter luxu, deliciis & omnibus flagitiis contaminatus.Gallienus being ready to die, who by Gallonius Basilius, sent the Imperial Robes to him, then at Ticinum. Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome.
He was elected by the Soldiers before the Walls of Milain, Olaus Magnus, fol. 673.and confirmed in Rome by the Senate with much joy.
He was so renowned a Prince, that he was said to have*Tito ille Vespasiani filio omni virtutem genere par, nisi forsan major: sed & spatium regnandi compar; biennium utrique imperandi finem fecit. Rivii Hist. Navalis Media, l. 2. p. 90. Augustus his moderation, Trajans vertue, and Antoninus his piety met in him.
A Woman desiring him after he was Emperor, to restore an inheritance, which he had unjustly took from her when he was but a private person; he graciously granted her request, saying; Quod Claudius dum privatus erat, nec leges curabat, abstulit; factus Imperator restituit. Zonaras.
In his time Athens was ransacked by Gothes, who piled heaps of Books to burn, but were advised by one to forbear, that the Grecians spending their time in them, might be less fit for war. Cedrenus, B. Egnatius. Iudicium barbari non prorsus vanum. Etsi Cleodemus Atheniensis fuga clapsus, coactaque manu & navibus hostes invadens, Graecis librorum tractatione virtutem non demi ipsorum clade docuit. Heidmannus in Epitome Historica de Imp. Rom.
Aureolus being slain by his own company, Claudius received the government of those Countries; and fighting against the Almains, he overthrew above half of them. S. Aur. Victor.
He waged war with the Gothes, who infested the Empire 15 years with continual irruptions (saith Iornandes) and now in league with many barbarous Nations, invaded Thrace and the Countries before them, even to Macedonia; and thence came through Hungary down Danubius with 2000 sail of Ships fraught with ammunition and men: to meet which Claudius prepared, and engaged them so valiantly, that he slew and took 320000 men, and 2000 Ships laden with shields, swords, lances, &c. so that houses were filled therewith.
Hic autem quid dicam satis haereo: unum tamen o Claudi, sive Claudiane scriptor hic admiror: si tot Gothorum millia in hoc bello corruerunt, rogo unde iterum tot Gothi confestim succreverint, viresque reparaverint, ut vix anno elapso difficilimum negotium potentissimo duci Aureliano, & toti Romanae Reipub. facessere potuissent? proinde si Gothis aeque doctus scriptor accidisset, quemadmodum Romanis, multa utique aliter de sua gente tradidisset: quamvis adhuc nonnulla vetustissima fragmenta Gothicae historiae in eorum prima patria inveniantur, ex quorum antiquitate aliquando consummatior historia de Gothicis rebus (ut spero) elici…tur: interim oportebit ut nobis ex illis historiarum monimentis quae à Romanis traduntur, satisfactum putemus. Attendendum tamen est testimonium Tiberiani, & Flavii Vopisci, qui asserunt Trebellium in historia Claudiana adulationibus corruptum plura addidisse veritati: quibus ego eo facilius consentio, dum excepto eo Trebellio, priscorum nullus tot occisorum recordetur. Praeterea Sabellicus de ipso Trebellio ait, quod de Claudio è familia Constantini prognato adulatione plena omnia scripsit. Olaus Magnus, p. 678.
He intended to go against Tetricus and Zenobia, but was hindred by a fever which soon put an end to his life. He reigned 1 year, 10 months and 15 daies. He was deifyed by the Senate; had a statue of gold 10 foot high erected in the Capitol in honour of him by the people at their own cost, (which they never did to any before:) and a target of the same metal, with his picture in it, was hung up in the Court by the Senates appointment. There was also by general consent set up for him a pillar composed of the prows of Ships; upon which was placed his statue, representing him clothed with his Consular Robe, of 1500 pound weight of silver.
It was a providence, that Claudius found the Empire so beset with enemies, that he could not exercise so much cruelty as he intended against the Christians. R. B. of the Roman Emperors.
Iulian feigneth that the Gods seeing Claudius enter the place where they assembled to banquet, received him very honourably, admiring his magnanimity, and esteeming him worthy of posterity that should enjoy the Empire a long time, because he shewed so much love to his Country. After at the end of his Cesars this Apostate (who hated the memory of Constantine and his sons, for their abolishing idolatrous worship in many places) saith; the Gods tormented Constantine and his children in Hell a great while for cruelty to their relations, but at length Iupiter delivered them from their torments, for the sake of Claudius and Constantius Father of Constantine: the reason of which fiction was certainly, because Claudius was a great Persecutor. Tristan.
After Claudius, his brother Quintillus was chosen Emperor by consent of the Soldiers; being a person of singular moderation, and courteous, worthy to be compared with his brother, or rather to be preferred before him: the Senate also consented to the election. But being unable to resist Aurelian, chosen at the same time by part of the Army, he made away himself by opening a vein (at Tarsus in Cilicia) say some, having reigned but 17 daies; but others write that he was killed by the Soldiers.
Claudius insigni memorandus clade Gothorum,
Quem rapit ante annos invida parca duos.
Boissardus.