Son choked on a pear, age 4
Claudius's only son, also named Claudius, died aged four after choking on a pear.
Snapshot · Fin vs History
Not All Roman Emperors Are Visible | Claudius (Part 1)
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Jun 22, 2026
Where this was said
Stephen Hornkins
At 40:55 · chapter starts 37:01
Fin Taylor notes that Claudius — despite being drooling, limping, and shouting involuntary expletives — was apparently quite driven by romantic ambition, coining the portmanteau 'Stephen Hornkins' (a fusion of Hawking and horny) to describe the combination. The hosts then walk through his personal disasters in sequence. Betrothal number one: cancelled when the girl's family gets politically disgraced. Betrothal number two: Livia Mediolina, who dies on their actual wedding day. Marriage number one: Plautia Urgulanilla, with whom Claudius has one son — also named Claudius — who dies at age four after choking on a pear. Claudius divorces wife number one when she's suspected of having an affair and being involved in the murder of her sister-in-law. Marriage number two: Aelia Paetina, Sejanus's adopted sister — divorced when Sejanus is executed and all her political value evaporates. The hosts marvel that a disabled man in ancient Rome managed to be quite the serial divorcee.
Tiberius rejected Claudius 3 times
Emperor Tiberius denied Claudius's request to begin his political career (cursus honorum) three times, citing his disabilities.
A Love Life Built on Catastrophe
Claudius's romantic life reads like a cruel comedy sketch: his first betrothal cancelled when her family was disgraced, his next fiancée died on their actual wedding day, and his only son choked to death on a pear at age four. The man could not catch a break.
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