NARCISUS, a freedman of the Emperor Claudius, became the secretary of his master, and rose to have great influence in the empire. His unscrupulous cunning, and his power over the mind of the emperor, rendered him a useful tool in the hands of Messalina, the profligate wife of Claudius. To gratify her revenge, he accomplished the destruction of Appius Silanus. For the same end he seized the occasion when Scribonianus was condemned for treason, to implicate many innocent persons in the conspiracy. At length the league between these two wily assassins was dissolved, and they directed their deadly arts against each other. The wary prudence of Narcissus soon
gave him the advantage. Hearing that Messalina, in her headlong career of debauchery, had married C. Silius, he hastened to carry the information to the emperor at Ostia. He returned to Rome with the entire command over the person and mind of the facile Claudius, and ordered Messalina to be immediately put to death. For his prompt conduct on this occasion he was raised to the dignity of the praetorship. It was in opposition to the wishes and influence of Narcissus that Agrippina was elevated to the place of Messalina in A.D. 49. A life-struggle arose in consequence between him and the new empress. He continued to retain the favour of the emperor. But the ruthless and ambitious Agrippina framed and executed a plot which ruined both the emperor and his favourite. In 54 A.D. Narcissus was persuaded to visit the warm baths of Campania for his health, and during his absence his master was poisoned, to make room for Nero. His own death was then accomplished without any difficulty.