d for the acknowledgment of his
deification by all inhabitants of the empire brought Caius into conflict
with the Jews, who had been exempted from this formal expression of
loyalty. In Alexandria there was a large Jewish colony, which enjoyed
exceptional privileges and was consequently hated by the other
Alexandrians. Their refusal to worship the images of Caius furnished the
mob with a pretext for sacking the Jewish quarters and forcibly installing
statues of the princeps in some of their synagogues. The Jews sent a
delegation to plead their case before Caius but could obtain no redress.
In the meantime Caius had ordered Petronius, the legate of Syria, to set
up his statue in the temple at Jerusalem, by force, if need be. However,
the prudent Petronius, seeing that this would bring about a national
revolt among the Jews delayed obeying the order, and the death of Caius
relieved him of the necessity of executing it at all.

*Tyranny.* In less than a year the reckless extravagance of Caius had
exhausted the immense surplus Tiberius had left in the treasury. To secure
new funds he resorted to openly tyrannical measures, extraordinary taxes,
judicial murders, confiscations, and forced legacies. By these means money
was extorted not only from Romans of all classes but provincials also.
Ptolemy, king of Mauretania, was executed for the sake of his treasure and
his kingdom made a province.

*Assassination.* Caius contemplated invasions of Germany and of Britain,
but the former ended with a military parade across the Rhine and the
latter with a march to the shores of the Straits of Dover. The fear
awakened by his rule of capricious violence soon resulted in conspiracies
against his life. In January, 41 A. D., he was assassinated by a tribune
of the imperial guards.

III. CLAUDIUS, 41-54 A. D.

*Nominated by the Praetorians.* In the choice of a successor to Caius the
power of the praetorian guard was first clearly demonstrated. Caius was
the last male representative of the Julian _gens_, and at his death the
Senate debated the question of restoring the republic. However, the
decision was made for them by the praetorians, who dragged from his hiding
place and saluted as Imperator the surviving brother of Germanicus,
Tiberius Claudius Germanicus. The Senate had to acquiesce in his
nomination and grant him the powers of the princeps.

*Character.* Claudius was already fifty-one years old, but beca