Claudius was the first Roman emperor to be born outside of Italy; and he was ostracised and exempted from public office for much of his life due to slight deafness and being afflicted with a limp. It was his infirmity that would save him from the noble purges that occurred during the reigns of Tiberius and Caligula; as he was not seen as a serious threat.

Due to being the last surviving man of the Julio-Claudian family; Claudius was declared emperor by the Praetorian Guard after their assassination of Caligula. Despite his only previous experience being sharing a consulship with his nephew Caligula in 37 CE; he proved to be a capable administrator; as well as an ambitious builder across the Empire. The conquest of Britain began under his reign; and his seeming vulnerability meant that Claudius often had to shore up his position; usually through the deaths of rival senators and nobles.

He was succeeded after his death in 54 CE by his adopted son; Nero.