Tiberius Claudius Narcissus

:For other uses of the name Narcissus, see Narcissus (disambiguation)

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Tiberius Claudius Narcissus (fl. 1st century AD) was one of the freedmen who formed the core of the civil service under the Roman emperor Claudius. He is described as praepositus ab epistulis (in charge of correspondence).

Related Topics:
1st century AD - Freedmen - Roman emperor - Claudius

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It was through his influence that the future emperor Vespasian was appointed legate of the Legio II Augusta in Germania. In 43, during the preparations for the Roman conquest of Britain, he headed off a mutiny by addressing the troops. Seeing a former slave in their commander's position, they cried "Io Saturnalia!" (Saturnalia being a Roman festival when slaves and masters exchanged places for the day) and the mutiny ended.

Related Topics:
Vespasian - Legate - Legio II Augusta - Germania - 43 - Roman conquest of Britain - Slave - Saturnalia

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He had great influence over the emperor and ammassed a great deal of money. He is is said to have conspired with Claudius's wife Messalina to manipulate him into having several men executed. However when Messalina married Gaius Silius in 48, it was Narcissus who betrayed her to Claudius, and seeing the emperor hesitate, he gave the order for her execution himself.

Related Topics:
Messalina - Gaius Silius - 48

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Claudius later named him praetor, and he was charged with overseeing the building of a canal to drain lake Fucinus, but Claudius's new wife Agrippina accused him of embezzling funds from the project. He was sent away to Campania, ostensibly to take advantage of the warm baths there to relieve his gout, and was executed there in 54 on the accession of the emperor Nero. Before his death he burned all Claudius's letters.

Related Topics:
Praetor - Agrippina - Campania - Gout - 54 - Nero

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An inscription names his wife as Claudia Dicaeosyna.

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