Page "Claudius" Paragraph 3

In 9 BC, Drusus unexpectedly died on campaign in Germania, possibly from illness.

Claudius was then left to be raised by his mother, who never remarried.

When Claudius ' disability became evident, the relationship with his family turned sour.

Antonia referred to him as a monster, and used him as a standard for stupidity.

She seems to have passed her son off on his grandmother Livia for a number of years.

Livia was little kinder, and often sent him short, angry letters of reproof.

He was put under the care of a " former mule-driver " to keep him disciplined, under the logic that his condition was due to laziness and a lack of will-power.

However, by the time he reached his teenage years his symptoms apparently waned and his family took some notice of his scholarly interests.

In 7, Livy was hired to tutor him in history, with the assistance of Sulpicius Flavus.

He spent a lot of his time with the latter and the philosopher Athenodorus.

Augustus, according to a letter, was surprised at the clarity of Claudius ' oratory.

Expectations about his future began to increase.