History Characters / IClaudius

* InsaneEqualsViolent: Manages to subvert this despite featuring the actual Caligula. His violent/psychopathic tendencies are explicitly shown NOT to follow from his psychotic delusions: he's a killer from childhood, but doesn't go mad until after he becomes Emperor years later. Livia and other murderous characters are described as "mad" by other characters, but are not shown as irrational - even Nero, explicitly called "as mad as... Caligula", is clearly nothing of the kind.

* OffingTheOffspring

* HairOfGold: A rare male example of this trope. His children are all inversions (either good but dark-haired or blonde but evil).

Claudius's mother, and one of the few "moral" people in Rome. Though how sane she is is rather questionable

* SoapboxSadie: Is constantly bemoaning how Rome is going down the toilet

* AFatherToHisMen: like his father and grandfather.
* HairOfGold: A rare male example of this trope. His children are all inversions.

* LargeHam: He is played by John Hurt by the way.

* BerserkButton: Mention Aggrippina's name around Tiberius and he'll want to murder everything in sight.

* TrainingFromHell: his take on army training.

* {{Yandere}}: After divorcing Vipsania, he becomes this. Subverted in that he was forced into a divorce, and his love of his wife one of his few redeeming qualities.

* VillainousIncest: With his sister

The protaganist of the series, as well as the narrator. His life is essentially one tragedy after another. Played by DerekJacobi.

* AGodAmI: Subverted and played straight. He technically is worshipped as one, but he sure as hell doesn't want it.

* LonelyAtTheTop

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Did feel genuine guilt for murdering Augustus, and was horrified when she learned that Caligula murdered his father.

* ManipulativeBastard: She plays Augustus like a fiddle.

* AbusiveParent: Even in his own hallucinations Claudius isn't free from her constant degredation.

Claudius's insane nephew, and the third emperor of Rome. Played by John Hurt.

* EnfanteTerrible: Is already a murderer before he even hit puberty

* ColonelBadass: a very capable general.

* LonelyAtTheTop: His ghost admits as much to Claudius

* VillainousIncest: With his mother

* AGodAmI: Feels it's the only way to avoid eternal damnation.

* ParentalFavouritism

* AGodAmI: In the more usual sense.

* DirtyOldMan

Claudius's mother, and one of the few "moral" people in Rome. Though how sane she is rather questionable

* CompleteMonster

* JerkassWoobie: As much as an asshole as he is, it's kind of hard not to pity him when he learns that his son had been murdered by his allegedly "trustworthy" advisor.
** Not to mention that he never really wanted to be emperor in the first place and was pushed into it by his mother...whose plans necessitated forcing him to divorce the woman he was deeply in love with.

* CompleteMonster

* ValuesDissonance: Her actress stated that her behavior is largely due to the time period in which she was raised.

* MagnificentBitch

* JerkassWoobie: In her final moments.

* AlasPoorVillain

* TheWoobie: His life is one long series of hardships after another.

Claudius's uncle, and the second emporer. Played by George Baker.

* VillainousIncest: With his mother

The protaganist of the series, as well as the narrator. His life is essentially one tragedy after another. Played by Derek Jacobi.

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass

Claudius's insane nephew, and the third emporer of Rome. Played by John Hurt.

The protaganist of the series, as well as the narrator. His life is essentially one tragedy after another

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Pretty much the only reason that he survives for as long as he does
* TheWoobie: His life is one long series of hardships after another

* ValuesDissonance: Her actress stated that her behavior is largely due to the time period in which she was raged.

Claudius's insane nephew, and the third emporer of Rome.

* AGodAmI

Claudius's uncle, and the second emporer. Pretty much totally unlikable.

** Not to mention the fact that he never seemed to particularly want to be emporer in the first place, but was pretty much forced into it by his bitch of a mother, whose schemes basically ruined his life.

* {{Yandere}}: After divorcing Vipsania, he becomes this. Subverted in that he was forced into a divorce, and his love of his wife is his one redeeming quality.

* AGodAmI: Feels it's the only way to avoid eternal damnation.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Did feel genuine guilt for murdering Augustus, and was horrified when she learned that Caligula murdered his father.
* JerkassWoobie: In her final moments.

* AbusiveParent: Even in his own hallucinations Claudius isn't free from her constant degredation.
* ValuesDissonance: Her actress stated that her behavior is largely due to the time period in which she was raged.

* TheCaligula: Well Duh.

* AGodAmI

* JerkassWoobie: As much as an asshole as he is, it's kind of hard not to pity him when he learns that his son had been murdered by his allegedly "trustworthy" advisor.
** Not to mention the fact that he never seemed to particularly want to be emporer in the first place, but was pretty much forced into it by his bitch of a mother, whose schemes basically ruined his life.
* DirtyOldMan

* [[Yandere]]: After divorcing Vipsania, he becomes this. Subverted in that he was forced into a divorce, and his love of his wife is his one redeeming quality.
* MommasBoy: A very tragic example of one.

* JerkAss

* IncorruptiblePurePurness: The only people who don't like him are almost inevitably complete douchebags.

* IncomprehensiblyPurePurness: The only people who don't like him are almost inevitably complete douchebags.

* SoapboxSadie: Is constantly bemoaning how Rome is going down the tiolet