I, Claudius and the Historical Accuracy of Its Characters

The 1976 television mini-series I, Claudius has been lauded for its style and performances. Is it, however, an accurate portrayal of the life and family of the Roman emperor Claudius? In order to determine whether the series is true to the recorded personalities of the characters, I will analyze both the historical and fictional portrayals of major characters. Historical sources such as Suetonius, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Seneca, as well as the reconstructions of modern scholars will help to establish the historical versions of these figures, while the television series I, Claudius will provide the fictional versions. Comparison of the two will allow us to establish whether or not I, Claudius can be described as a true-to-history account of the emperor Claudius and his family, or whether the show was written more purely for the purpose of entertainment.