Wednesday, January 25, 2006

 

This Day in Ancient History

On this day in 41 AD, Claudius is confirmed Emperor of Rome by the Senate at age 51, and he is a pretty good one for 14 years until he is poisoned and the bad Emperor Nero takes over. I can't stress how good the novels I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves are. They are the best historical fiction I have ever read. (Also see Acts 11:28).

This is also the death day in 98 AD of Nerva, a good Emperor (if only by comparison to his predecessor Domitian) who only ruled a short time. He suffered a stroke on January 1, 98, lingered for a few weeks, and died at age 67 He was succeeded by Trajan whom he had adopted, setting a custom followed for the next several decades and paying off with 4 good Emperors.

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