Senate
Because, in fact, Claudius has the power to bypass the Senate in the early years of his reign he tried to make it appear that the main governing body in the State Senate is, and he only "first among equals." Claudius refused all the titles and positions, except the emperor and the Senate tribunician power - essential for the Principate. Other titles, including the emperor and the Father of the Fatherland, he took over his reign.
Being in the Curia, Claudius by his behavior and showed himself equal to others. The word he took on a rotational basis, offering bills that sat between the consuls, on the right forum, but not on the dais, as Princeps, or emperor. Wanting to appease the Senate, he allowed the Senate, the first time since August, to mint its own bronze coins, and handed control of the Senate two imperial provinces - Macedonia and Achaia. All this in a short time he has earned the respect and affection of both the Senate and the entire people.
However, this does not shield it from the numerous conspiracies and assassinations, which were also involved and senators. In addition, sensing the relative freedom, the Senate has dragged its feet and the adoption of various laws and regulations. This spodviglo emperor to conduct deeper reforms in the Senate.
In 47 year, together with Lucius Vitellius, Emperor assumes responsibility censor. Among the senators were ruthlessly erased those who are no longer corresponded to the Senate as censorship. In order to efface the impression, have been reviewed and lists the equestrian order. Instead, erased, which, incidentally, had been promised that when the condition of censorship in the Senate 900 000 sesterces them again will welcome into the ranks of senators, Claudius introduced in the Senate representatives Italic nobility, as well as for the first time, representatives of the Gallic provinces, with the Roman citizenship . Also, in order to have at its disposal loyal people, Claudius conferred the status of several Roman patrician lineage.
This caused an understandable resistance to the Senate in connection with what, a 48-year, Claudius had to drastically reduce the power of the senators. By the time the Secretariat has functioned, and the emperor was able to concentrate power in his hands. The Senate limited in making financial decisions and minting money, transferring it to the appropriate board, selected as the management of the main port of Ostia, sending an imperial procurator. Since then, any attempt to senators to oppose the will of the emperor was brutally suppressed, leading to considerable loss of life among the nobility. During the reign of Claudius were executed 35 senators and 300 representatives of the equestrian order.