Nothing ends a political career faster than a sex scandal. No matter if you are a representative,
governor, or a president; extra-marital affairs can destroy decades of your hard-earned reputation
in a matter of days. However, there are exceptions to the rule. Leaders like Julius
Caesar never cared about such allegations and achieved the peak of their careers. But there
is one politician playboy who not only became successful despite being caught red-handed but
used the scandal itself as a trampoline to new success in his career. Publius Claudius Pulcher.
Today on Nutty History we’re covering the biggest social scandal that rocked the Senate of Ancient
Rome and the ways it played a crucial role in ending the republican era of the Roman Empire.
In 62 BCE, Julius Caesar’s wife Pompeia was asked to host the festival of the Bona Dea. This was an
old custom for the wives of incumbent Pontifex Maximus AKA “The Chief Priest” and only women were
allowed to attend. Caesar was elected as Pontifex Maximus only a year ago and this was a major
event for his wife and family. Claudius, who was infatuated with Pompeia, infiltrated the festival
disguised as a woman and only revealed himself to Pompeia after finding her alone. It’s believed
that Caesar’s mother walked in on them along with a servant, and soon the rumor spread all over
Rome. This was huge news for the whole political circle of Rome as Caesar was an office-bearer
on the rise and a lot of senators were not only jealous of his success but suspicious of him. Now,
the shoe was on the other foot. Soon, Claudius was arrested and charged with sacrilege.
Publius Claudius Pulcher was a typical bratty byproduct of nepotism. He was a descendant
of aristocratic Claudian gens who were one of Rome’s oldest and noblest patrician families.
At the mere age of 20, he was banished from Rome for falsely accusing Catiline of adultery with one
of the Vestal Virgins. During his exile from Rome, Claudius was accused of turning his brother-in-law
Lucullus’s army against him after sleeping with his own sister Claudia who was then Lucullus's
wife, which spoiled Roman diplomacy with Cyprus, and instigating riots in Syria. Claudius had
infamously established himself as a walking, talking PR nightmare. News of Caesar’s wife
being seduced by such a moron was grave news for Caesar’s reputation in the noble society of Rome.
High profile lawyers Cicero and Curio got involved in the trial and the debate dragged on for months.
This courtroom drama delayed not only forthcoming elections but also public business and it was now
hurting the interest of prominent politicians like Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar himself. Even
though Cicero, Caesar’s mother and many other eyewitnesses presented damning evidence against
Claudius, Caesar’s testimony and Crassus’s bribe to the jury had Claudius acquitted. Caesar,
despite being fully aware of the truth, proclaimed his wife’s innocence indirectly clearing Claudius.
But after the trial, Caesar also divorced Pompeia on the famous reasoning that “Caesar's wife must
be above suspicion". Claudius, however, walked free and Caesar formed an alliance with Crassus
and Pompey for mutual political benefit. Claudius was a small name in Rome’s political circle
who had a decent following among commoners. As most of Caesar’s voters were commoners too,
he saw potential in Claudius and instead of punishing the man for an affair with his wife,
Caesar and Crassus offered him an opportunity to work for the first triumvirate. Claudius
renounced his lineage after the trial and got adopted by a commoners’ family in order
to run for the tribune of the plebs. With help of Crassus’s backing and massive support from voters,
Claudius won as well. Soon after gaining power he used it to exact revenge on Cicero and had him
banished from Rome, but also strengthened his gang of private thugs. These thugs were used to harass
nobles and politicians and they worked not only for Claudius but helped the triumvirate indirectly
as well. But Claudius was just a pawn and his gaining power soon became a concern. Pompey
was the first to criticize Claudius openly and expressed his desire to bring Cicero back to Rome.
Infuriated, Claudius threatened Pompey and even tried to assassinate him for a year. When Cicero
returned to Rome, he and Pompey backed Milo in the next elections against Claudius. Milo indeed
defeated Claudius and soon formed his own gang of thugs to take the fight to the streets. In their
final confrontation on Appian Way, Milo managed to kill Claudius. This whole chapter tarnished
the faith of the republic amongst commoners while creating a mood of uncertainty among patricians.
Meanwhile, Caesar grew his power in Europe and Africa and returned home to contest for
Consul of the Roman republic against Pompey which would eventually lead to the end of the republic.
Well, that’s quite a lot, isn’t it? What do you think should Caesar have given Claudius after the
affair? Was the end of the republic inevitable? Let us know where you stand in the comments.