At the other end of the spectrum is emperor caligula who the historian suetonius c. Caius iulius caesar augustus germanicus, 31 august 12 d. While caligula was addressing an acting troupe of young men during a series of games and dramatics held for the divine augustus, the praetorian guard, led by cassius chaerea, stormed. Claudius simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In claudius the god, graves continues the story, detailing claudiuss thirteenyear reign and his ultimate downfall. The film was cut to ribbons in editing and to my mind it shows as there was little flow to proceedings and the overarching story was difficult to follow unless you had read up on the production beforehand. Written in the form of an autobiography of the roman emperor claudius, it tells the history of the julioclaudian dynasty and the early years of the roman empire, from julius caesar s assassination in 44 bc to caligula s assassination in ad 41. Roman emperor claudius 4154 has long been regarded as a socalled bad emperor, standing in the line of notorious guys like caligula, nero and domitianus. Gaius julius caesar augustus germanicus was born in the year 12 ad to the roman general germanicus and agrippina, the. I, claudius despite having very small budget and being shot on video stands the test of time both as an important monument and as interesting and thrilling watch today. Tiberius claudius caesar augustus germanicus august 1, 10 bc october, 54 tiberius claudius drusus nero germanicus before his accession was the fourth roman emperor of the julioclaudian dynasty, ruling from january 24, 41 to his death in 54.
In i, claudius he watches from the sidelines to record the reigns of its emperors. The series meant for various novice actors such as derek jacobi as the stuttering claudius, john hurt as caligula and patrick stewart as sejanus a breakthrough. Caligula was famous for the cruelty and insanity associated with his reign. He is a triumvirate holdings leader alongside nero and commodus. All the actors in this series are in or have been in american films but they. This week, expedictionarys quote of the fortnight returns, this time with a quote from robert graves classic i, claudius. Caligula is a mess of a film with some interesting moments and good performences interspersed between random orgies and tortures. Isnt what a man says more important than how long he takes to say it. He ruled from 24 january 41 ad to his death in 54 ad.
So lets say that remake of i claudius will be released one day with maybe this cast. I, claudius is a 1976 bbc television adaptation of robert gravess i, claudius and claudius the god. But we shouldnt forget how original cast and i claudius are. Claudius the god and his wife messalina book by robert graves. During his reign, many innocent people were killed without fair trials. Was he only feigning indifference, as the stopped caring entry suggests, or was he passiveaggressively grooming nero as revenge for his generally miserable. I, claudius is a historical novel by english writer robert graves, first published in 1934. The series, written by jack pulman, is based on the books i, claudius and claudius the god by robert graves. Born in lugdunum in gaul modernday lyon, france, to drusus and antonia minor, he was the. Was the roman emperor caligula really the depraved despot of popular legend.
The series features some terrific actors such as john hurt as caligula, patrick stewart as. Julius caesar, atia, octavian later known as augustus, octavia, marc antony, cleopatra, livia, and very briefly antonia. Painting the vivid, tumultuous, and decadent society of ancient rome with. Caligula is an extract from two of robert graves historical novels, i, claudius and claudius the god, focusing on the mad roman emperor as told from the perspective of his uncle claudius. Read in the style of a secret diary, this famous sequel to i, claudius gives a wry and human view of the roman world, bringing to life some of the most scandalous and violent times in history. In i, claudius, robert graves began the story of the limping, stammering young man who is suddenly thrust onto the throne after the death of caligula. Claudius was 53 years younger than his greatuncle augustus. Among many other productions and adaptations, gravess claudius novels have also been adapted for bbc radio. The history of this dynasty is the subject of two of the most successful historical novels of modern times, i, claudius and claudius the god, by robert graves. But concern with the antiroman influence of the druid priesthood, which he tried to suppress in gaul, and a general inclination toward expanding the frontiers were. After only four years, he was assassinated by members of his bodyguard and the roman senate. Similarly, caligula was 22 years younger than his uncle and successor claudius. See more ideas about rome costume, masterpiece theater and actor.
Lots of period drama set around the louche lifestyles and murderous intrigue of generations of roman emperors, they may say, plus a few wellknown faces looking. This was one of the books i listened to on my recent vacation. Barrett draws on archaeological, numismatic, and literary evidence to evaluate this infamous figure in the context of the system that gave him absolute power. A conspiracy to assassinate caligula and replace him with his uncle claudius had been in discussion for some time and that day had been decided for the event. I, claudius is robert graves riveting account of ancient rome in all its madness and debauchery. John hurt initially declined the role of caligula when it was offered to him. Caligula gaius julius caesar germanicus, 1241 begins on p. In 41 ad, he was assassinated by his own guards, who then replaced him with claudius. Based on the novels by robert graves, it stars derek jacobi the kings. It is written as an autobiography of the roman emperor, claudius. Here is one of the best historical novels ever written. The series opens with an elderly claudius penning his memoirs, which tell of. Gaius julius caesar augustus germanicus was born in the year 12 ad to the roman general germanicus and agrippina. Gaius caesar, nicknamed caligula or little boot, was born on august 31, in 12 a.
At the age of only ten, he drove his father germanicus to despair and death by secretly terrorising him. Was he only feigning indifference, as the stopped caring entry suggests, or was he passiveaggressively grooming nero as revenge for his generally miserable life awesome music. Caligula is revealed not as a wildeyed psychopath, as he was so brilliantly portrayed by john hurt in the tv adaptation of i, claudius, but as a cynic and sophisticate, who threatens to. In the novel i, claudius by english writer robert graves, caligula is presented as being a murderous sociopath from his childhood, who became clinically insane early in his reign. Abhorred by his weakness and viewed by his family as little more than a stammering. Having read caligula on my kindle i immediately downloaded the next part of the trilogy, claudius. Cast as the secret memoirs of claudius himself, they were grounded in exhaustive scholarship but imbued with a novelists. Oct 14, 2018 introduction caligula is an erotic historical drama film made in 1979, based on the rise and fall of gaius caesar, and starring malcolm mcdowell, peter otoole, john gielgud, helen mirren, teresa ann savoy, paolo bonacelli, guido mannari his english dub voice done by patrick allen, and john steiner. Caligula gaius julius caesar augustus germanicus was roman emperor from 37 to 41 ce.
Instead, rule passed to caligulas uncle, claudius, who had bribed the praetorian guard into supporting him. Claudius the god by robert graves cdaudio 9781906147389 published by canongate 4 june 2009. Whos who in i claudius if youve come here looking for a family tree for hbos rome, the characters who are also on this page are. Mad, bad, and maybe a little misunderstood telegraph. Caligula was a roman emperor who ruled from 37 ad until his assassination in 41 ad. He was killed in an explosion caused by frank zhang during the battle of san francisco bay.
His greatuncle was the first emperor augustus, and his uncle was the second emperor tiberius. The history of the roman empire as experienced by one of its rulers. Feb 01, 2019 i was afraid to see people arguing about i claudius. A member of the julioclaudian dynasty, he was the son of drusus and antonia minor. Caligula with mary beard ancient rome documentary timeline. Life here is dictated by caligulas ever shifting moods. Known by his nickname caligula, the notorious gaius julius caesar germanicus was the third emperor of the roman empire. Granted, the drama covers both i, claudius and claudius the god, and features some top notch acting, but a lot of material finer details were omitted. First, lets look at the trailer for the 1979 film, which is for the rrated version just one of several.
He was born at lugdunum in gaul, the first roman emperor to be born outside italy. Mad, bad, and maybe a little misunderstood caligulas notoriety as an unhinged, bloodthirsty roman emperor may not tell the whole story. Claudiuss general policy increased the emperors control over the treasury and the provincial administration and apparently gave his own governors in. I, claudius is a 1976 bbc television adaptation of robert gravess i, claudius and claudius. Why you should be watching the roman saga of i, claudius. Even with all that, he was popular with the roman public in his time. Livia then hosts a surprising dinner, to which claudius and caligula are invited. Derek jacobi and james faulkner in i, claudius 1976 brian blessed and sian phillips in. This beautiful serial shouldnt be divided on better and worse especially because john hurt actor who portrayed the best emperor caligula died. Born to drusus and antonia minor at lugdunum in roman gaul, where his father was stationed as a military legate, he was the first roman emperor to be born outside italy. Claudius stammered and had a disability that made him clumsy. Both books romp along at a good rate of knots and douglas jackson keeps the suspense level simmering all the way through. If you ask any game of thrones fan, the actor who plays joffrey baratheon, a cruel and violent child king in the books an. John hurt was born on january 22, 1940 while his character caligula was.
Lame, stammering claudius, once a major embarrassment to the imperial family and now emperor of rome, writes an eyewitness account of the reign of the first four caesars. If youre like me, these sprawling family sagas are very confusing until you figure out. Nov 25, 2012 the durability of i, claudius began with gravess books. I have not completed it as yet but i am enjoying it. For many actors that would eventually go on to become household names, i claudius provided important initial exposure to large audiences in the uk and usa. Life styles of the rich and famous by hugh lloydjones. Today as the depraved caligula, whose reign of terror paves the way for claudiuss. Feb 01, 2017 the british actor, who died last week, became famous in the u. Into the autobiography of clauclauclaudius, the pitiful stammere. Gaius julius caesar augustus germanicus, better known as caligula, was a roman emperor and a current godemperor. Claudiuss decision to invade britain 43 and his personal appearance at the climax of the expedition, the crossing of the thames and the capture of camulodunum colchester, were prompted by his need of popularity and glory. Because he was afflicted with a limp and slight deafness due to.
It starts at the assassination of julius caesar in 44 bc and ends with the assassination of caligula in 41 ad. I, claudius returns in a 35thanniversary dvd set the new. Its one thing to read an historical account of caligula by suetonius, quite another to read a dramatized account by a skilled 20th century novelist. Caligula is best understood as an enfantallowed to be infinitely terrible by an obsequious senate and subject to no restraint or authority, until stopped in his tracks by the daggers of the inevitable assassins. With derek jacobi, john hurt, sian phillips, brian blessed. Caligula, roman emperor from 37 to 41 ce, who succeeded tiberius and completed the emperors monopoly of army command. Now, the story behind one of the most notorious films in movie history. Caligula is as generous as he is cruel, he is a megalomaniac who declares himself a living god and simultaneously lives in constant fear of the plots against his life. Caligula simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Written by jack pulman, it proved one of the corporations most successful drama serials of all time. Claudius gained new fame when historian robert graves published his landmark historical novel i, claudius in 1934. Apart from caligula and salon kitty, there was only one title in english, namely yankee. Drawing on the histories of plutarch, suetonius, and gaius cornelius tacitus, noted historian and classicist robert graves tells the story of the muchmaligned emperor claudius with both skill and compassion. Caligula wants a keeper for the imperial elephant and rufus is bought from his master and taken to the imperial palace.
The book was made into a popular bbc miniseries of the 1970s, with actor derek jacobi playing claudius claudius was the nephew of tiberius and the brother of the soldier germanicus. I, claudius 1934 is a novel by english writer robert graves, written in the form of an autobiography of the roman emperor claudius. Sep 14, 2009 having read caligula on my kindle i immediately downloaded the next part of the trilogy, claudius. If you enjoy a good read then i would definitely recommend these books. Caligula formally known as gaius was the third of ancient romes emperors, who achieved feats of waste and carnage during his fouryear reign a. The epic that never was the lost footage 1937 i claudius charles laughton. He also expanded the empire by annexing mauretania, lycia in asia minor, and thrace and enlarging and reorganizing imperial possessions in the near east. Caligula gaius julius caesar augustus germanicus, 31 august 12 24 january 41, was the third roman emperor. First published in 1934, and written in the form of claudius autobiography, it endures as one of literatures most celebrated and compelling historical novels. The reign of claudius predecessor, caligula, offers even better material for this kind of thing. Im relatively new to radio dramas, but not to i, claudius, and i have to admit, i was a little disappointed with this one. In this book the first major reassessment of caligulas life and career in over fifty. Younger readers who dont remember i, claudius, the 1976 tv adaptation of the two robert graves novels, i, claudius and claudius the god, may wonder what all the fuss was about. Aug 28, 2015 caligula is revealed not as a wildeyed psychopath, as he was so brilliantly portrayed by john hurt in the tv adaptation of i, claudius, but as a cynic and sophisticate, who threatens to make his.
This book was chosen as one of the hundred best english novels. Written by jack pulman, it starred derek jacobi as claudius, with sian phillips, brian blessed, george baker, margaret tyzack, john hurt, patricia quinn, ian ogilvy, kevin mcnally, patrick stewart, and john rhysdavies. A superlative part saga, based on robert graves novels, centering on the. Blond, a blonds roman emperorsa scandalous history of the roman emperors, quartet books. Starring sian phillips, brian blessed, and derek jacobi as claudius, this is the original, uncut british. Based on the novels i, claudius and claudius the god by robert graves, it was the story of one of the lesserknown roman emperors and the dynasty he. Julia drusilla daughter of caligula project gutenberg. The two books were adapted by the bbc into the awardwinning television serial i, claudius in 1976.
Accounts about caligulas reign by ancient historians are so biased against him that the truth is almost impossible to disentangle. In real life, derek jacobi is two years younger than brian blessed. Emperor claudius caesar augustus germanicus study archive. Awardwinning writers stephen barber and jeremy reed document in full the atrocities of caligula and also the other mad emperors. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of of i, claudius with exclusive news, photos, videos and more at. Written in the form of claudius autobiography, this is the first part of robert gravess brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient.
Among the great emperors of the roman empire stand augustus and marcus aurelius. This is one of the most notorious films ever released for many reasons, like the fact that an allstar cast of oscar winners finds themselves in a xxxrated film. I, claudius is a british television series from 1976 dertiendelige manufactured by the bbc. Claudius has survived the murderous intrigues of his predecessors to become, reluctantly, emperor of rome. The main reasons for this image were the books of latin authors like seneca, suetonius and tacitus. The rise and fall of the notorious roman emperor caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign he gives his horse political office and humiliates and executes anyone who even slightly displeases him. The series covers the history of the early roman empire, told from the perspective. He had been an embarrassment to the imperial family and had spent much of his life secluded, writing books on roman, etruscan and carthaginian history. In his the twelve caesars he further added it is difficult to say whether weakness of. Sep 25, 2016 based on the novels i, claudius and claudius the god by robert graves, it was the story of one of the lesserknown roman emperors and the dynasty he belonged to, whose family business, as producer.
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