On the 1st of August 10 BC, a boy named Tiberius Claudius D. f. Ti. n. Drusus was born in Lugdunum, modern-day Lyon, France. His father served as a military legate there, making the child the first Roman emperor to be born outside Italy. The infant suffered from an illness that left him with a limp, a stammer, and a tremor. His mother Antonia Minor called him a monster and used his condition as a standard for stupidity. She passed him off to her own mother Livia for years of care.
Livia sent short angry letters of reproof to the young prince. A former mule-driver supervised his discipline under the logic that his condition resulted from laziness. By his teenage years, symptoms waned enough for family members to notice his scholarly interests. In AD 7, Livy began tutoring Claudius in history alongside Sulpicius Flavus. He spent much time with philosopher Athenodorus. Augustus later expressed surprise at the clarity of Claudius's oratory in a surviving letter.
His work as a historian damaged his prospects for advancement. He wrote a history of Civil Wars that proved too truthful or critical of Octavian. Family elders quickly stopped the project. They decided he could not be trusted to toe the party line. When Augustus died in AD 14, Claudius was twenty-three years old. He appealed to Tiberius for public office but received only consular ornaments. He requested office again and was snubbed. He retired to a private life while the general public respected him.
The Praetorian Gambit
On the 24th of January 41, Caligula was assassinated by Cassius Chaerea and several senators. Claudius witnessed the German guard cut down uninvolved noblemen including many friends. He fled to the palace to hide behind a curtain. A Praetorian named Gratus found him there and suddenly proclaimed him princeps. The Praetorians spirited him away to their camp under protection.
The Senate debated changing the government into an argument over who would become new princeps. They demanded Claudius be delivered for approval when they heard of the Praetorians' claim. He refused sensing danger from complying. Some historians like Josephus claimed Judaean King Herod Agrippa directed his actions. Eventually the Senate gave in. Claudius granted amnesty though executed junior officers involved in the conspiracy.
Actual assassins including Cassius Chaerea were put to death as future deterrents. Since Claudius was first emperor proclaimed on initiative of Praetorian Guard instead of Senate, his repute suffered at hands of commentators like Seneca. They accused him of being first emperor to resort to bribery securing army loyalty. He rewarded soldiers with fifteen thousand sesterces each. Claudius remained grateful issuing coins with tributes to Praetorians early in reign.