CLAUDIUS I. Roman emperor, A. D. 41. The beginning of his reign was very promising; but it was soon discovered that little better than an ideot filled the throne, who might easily be made a tyrant: accordingly he became a very cruel one, through the influence of his empress, the infamous Messalina: after her death, he married his niece Agrippina, who caused him to be poisoned to make way for Nero, A. D. 54. See (History of) ROME.