When Robert Graves wrote I, Claudius in the 1930s, Europe was on the brink of profound change. Fascist regimes were rising—Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany—and the world was seeing firsthand how fragile democracy could be. Graves used Ancient Rome’s transition from a republic to an empire as the backdrop for his novel, crafting a story that’s not just about history but also about power, corruption, and the consequences of losing a republic. It’s a theme that resonates, then and now.

The characters in I, Claudius—from the ruthless Livia to the mad and terrifying Caligula—aren’t just names from history books. Graves brings them to life as deeply human, flawed, and often dangerously ambitious figures. They’re fascinating to study, not only for what they reveal about ancient politics but for what they suggest about power dynamics in any era. It’s easy to see how Graves, living in a time when authoritarianism was making a comeback, might have found eerie parallels between the Rome of Claudius and his own world.

In many ways, the novel is a cautionary tale, a reminder of how political systems can unravel when trust, accountability, and moral boundaries are eroded. Below is a list of the historical figures that Graves wove into this narrative. They’re compelling as individuals, but together, they tell a larger story about what happens when a republic falls—and an empire rises.

Below is a comprehensive list of historical characters who appear in I, Claudius.

The Julio-Claudian Family

1. Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus (Claudius) - The protagonist and narrator, who later becomes Emperor Claudius.
2. Augustus (Gaius Octavius) - The first Roman Emperor and Claudius' great-uncle.
3. Livia Drusilla - Augustus' wife and Claudius' grandmother, depicted as manipulative and power-hungry.
4. Tiberius (Tiberius Julius Caesar) - Augustus' stepson and successor, known for his reclusive and tyrannical rule.
5. Drusus (Nero Claudius Drusus) - Claudius’ father and Tiberius' brother, a celebrated general.
6. Antonia Minor - Claudius’ mother, daughter of Mark Antony, and widow of Drusus.
7. Germanicus (Germanicus Julius Caesar) - Claudius' brother, a popular general and father of Caligula.
8. Livilla (Claudia Livia Julia) - Claudius’ sister, implicated in a plot to kill her husband.
9. Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) - Claudius’ nephew, known for his tyrannical and erratic behavior as Emperor.
10. Julia the Elder - Augustus' daughter, known for her scandalous behavior and exile.
11. Julia the Younger - Augustus' granddaughter, also exiled for immorality.
12. Agrippina the Elder - Claudius' niece and Germanicus’ wife, known for her defiance of Tiberius.
13. Agrippina the Younger - Claudius’ niece and future wife, mother of Nero.
14. Drusus Julius Caesar (Drusus the Younger) - Tiberius' son, poisoned by Sejanus.
15. Nero Julius Caesar - Germanicus' son and Claudius' nephew.
16. Gaius Julius Caesar (Gaius Caesar) - Germanicus' son, also known as Caligula.
17. Drusilla - Caligula’s sister, with whom he has an incestuous relationship.
18. Octavia - Claudius’ niece, later married to Nero.
19. Messalina (Valeria Messalina) - Claudius' third wife, infamous for her promiscuity.

Political Figures

1. Marcus Agrippa - Augustus’ close friend and general, husband of Julia the Elder.
2. Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso - Governor accused of murdering Germanicus.
3. Plancina - Piso’s wife, complicit in the plot against Germanicus.
4. Lucius Aelius Sejanus - Head of the Praetorian Guard under Tiberius, a schemer who falls from power.
5. Macro (Quintus Naevius Sutorius Macro) - Successor to Sejanus as head of the Praetorian Guard.
6. Publius Quinctilius Varus - Roman general who suffers a devastating defeat in the Teutoburg Forest.
7. Cassius Chaerea - A Praetorian Guard officer who leads the assassination of Caligula.
8. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Postumus (Postumus) - Augustus' grandson, exiled and later killed.

Military Figures

1. Gaius Maecenas - An advisor and patron of the arts during Augustus’ reign.
2. Cornelius Fuscus - Roman general and administrator.
3. Silius - A Roman general who opposes Tiberius' reign.
4. Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus - A relative of Claudius, father of Emperor Nero.

This list reflects the characters as they are depicted in I, Claudius, though Graves sometimes takes artistic liberties with their personalities and actions to fit his narrative.