Tiberius Claudius Narcissus plays a major role in the court of Roman Emperor Claudius (r. 41 - 54 AD). A former slave, he gains great wealth and influence. As a freedman he's loyal to the Emperor. He's responsible for the death of one of Rome's most notorious Empresses.
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Emperor Claudius is noted for his relationship with the freedmen of his court. The freedmen form a stable core of support, which most Emperors do not have. As a freedman assumes the family name of his former owner, so Narcissus is called Tiberius Claudius.
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Because of his staunch loyalty he has the trust of Claudius, as the Emperor's advisor, representative and confidante. One of the conditions of freedmen is fidelity to their former owners. Narcissus takes this to heart even unto death.
Besides being generous with the freedmen of his court, Claudius gains their empathy due to his physical afflictions and experiences growing up ostracized and insulted by his own poisonous family. Claudius also wants to improve the Imperial image.
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In 43 AD, as Roman prepares to conquer Britain, Narcissus addresses the troops to quell a mutiny. At the appearance of a former slave in their commander's position, the men cry "Io Saturnalia!" and the mutiny dissolves.
A Roman festival, Saturnalia is similar to the Feast of Fools or the British Lord of Misrule celebrations, when masters and slaves change places for the day. "Io Saturnalia" is commonly shouted out during the festival or after the punchline of a joke.
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The influence of Narcissus ensures the appointment of future emperor Vespasian (r. 69 - 79 AD) as legate or commander of the Legio II Augusta in Germania. The Legio II Augusta, created in later years of the Roman republic (510 - 31 BCE) is famous for skill in conquest.
In 43 AD Narcissus is duped by Claudius' third wife, Valeria Messalina, into orchestrating the execution of one of the Messalina's enemies, Senator Appius Silanus, her mother's husband. The reason for Messalina's desire for his death is uncertain.
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A cause often cited is his refusal to sleep with her, a shallow reason often given for men being murdered by women. It's possible she tries to seduce him, perhaps to then accuse him of assault; she sees him as a political enemy and resents her mother's attentions to him.
Messalina knows her game. In 43 AD she uses the loyalty of Narcissus to Claudius to convince him Silanus wants to assassinate the Emperor. She and Narcissus pretend to have the same prophetic dreams, causing Claudius to have Silanus executed.
Later, when Narcissus realizes her true nature, he becomes her bitter enemy, acting to protect Claudius from her schemes and her brazen public disparagement of him. In 48 AD Messalina, already known for her affairs and indiscretions, goes too far.
She gives her latest lover, Senator Gaius Silius, a vast number of Imperial family heirlooms, and "marries" him at a public feast while Claudius is away.
As Messalina is legally wed to Claudius the marriage is either symbolic or bigamous. However, Narcissus and others suspect she wants to dispose of Claudius, marry her lover, making him Emperor, and have him adopt her son Britannicus as heir.
Narcissus travels to meet Claudius and tells him everything. Under Roman law treason is punishable by death, as is a charge of adultery. In Rome, a search of Gaius' house finds the heirlooms. Outraged, Claudius has Gaius executed. Messalina begs for a chance to explain.
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Claudius gives in and asks Narcissus to arrange a private interview in the morning. Knowing her power over Claudius, and the probability of Messalina poisoning the Emperor, Narcissus takes matters into his own hands.
Informing the Praetorian Guard he's acting on behalf of the Emperor, he commands her execution. Claudius doesn't react when informed of her death. In his heart he knows it was inevitable. It may be that Narcissus saves the Emperor's life, this time.
After a while, Claudius once more considers taking a wife. Narcissus suggests he remarry his second wife, Aelia Paetina, with whom the Emperor already has a daughter. Claudius divorced Aelia Paetina for obscure reasons pivoting around psychological cruelty.
Paetina's daughter is married. It's the hope of Narcissus (and many others) that Claudius picks her husband as his adult heir, rather than the nine-year-old child Britannicus, who is openly hostile.
When Claudius chooses Agrippina the Younger and her son Lucius (future Emperor Nero), Narcissus foresees disaster, and allies himself with supporters of the child Britannicus. Claudius yet considers him trustworthy, making him praetor of a canal construction project.
However, Agrippina sees Narcissus as a primary roadblock in her path of Imperial power. She accuses him of embezzlement of canal funds. She's also afraid he'll reveal her affair with freedman Pallas, another strong player in the court of Claudius.
According to Agrippina, Narcissus is vocal in his plans to bring her down, promising to support and protect Britannicus. Claudius is in a quandary. His trust of Narcissus already bears a shadow due to the affiliation with Britannicus over Nero.
Narcissus' reasons for supporting Britannicus are simple. He knows Agrippina and son are lethal. She wants Nero on the throne and uses poisons and plots to destroy rivals. In 54 AD She has Narcissus sent to Campania, saying the warm baths will help treat his gout.
While Narcissus is away, Agrippina murders Claudius with poison mushrooms, thought to be death cap. She then orders the execution of Narcissus who is still in Campania. Hearing of Claudius' death, Narcissus hastens back to Rome.
He burns all Claudius' letters to prevent Nero from using their contents with evil intent. As the last of them burst into flames, the doors crash open. The guards seize Narcissus and throw him in prison. Shortly thereafter, Narcissus dies by execution.
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