Claudius, a Latin poet, flourished in the 4th century, under the emperor Theodosius, and under his sons Arcadius and Honorius. It is not agreed of what country he was a native; but he came to Rome in the year of Christ 395, when he was about 20 years old; and there intimated himself into Stilicho's favour; who, being a person of great abilities both for civil and military affairs, though a Goth by birth, was so confiderable a person under Honorius, that he may be said for many years to have governed the western empire. Stilicho afterwards fell into disgrace, and was put to death; and it is more than probable that the poet was involved in the misfortunes of his patrons, and severely persecuted in his Claudianus person and fortunes by Hadrian, an Egyptian by birth, who was captain of the guards to Honorius, and succeeded Stilicho. There is reason, however, to think that he rose afterwards to great favour, and obtained several honours both civil and military. The princess Serena had a great esteem for Claudian, and recommended and married him to a lady of great quality and fortune in Libya. There are a few little poems on sacred subjects, which through mistake have been ascribed by some critics to Claudian, and to have made him be thought a Christian. But St Austin, who was contemporary with him, expressly says that he was a Heathen. The time of Claudian's death is uncertain, nor do we know any farther particulars of his life than what are to be collected from his works, and which we have already related above. He is thought to have more of Virgil in his style than all the other imitators of him.

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 idiot 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 room for Nero, A.D. 54. See History of Rome.