Editing Claudius (section)

===Secretariat and centralization of powers===
Claudius was hardly the first emperor to use [[Freedman|freedmen]] to help with the day-to-day running of the Empire. He has however become famous for the new extents at which he made use of such men in the administration of the government, forced by the centralization of the powers of the ''princeps'' and not wanting free-born magistrates to serve under him as if they were not peers.

The secretariat was divided into bureaus, with each being placed under the leadership of one freedman. [[Tiberius Claudius Narcissus|Narcissus]] was the secretary of correspondence. [[Pallas (freedman)|Pallas]] became the secretary of the treasury. [[Gaius Julius Callistus|Callistus]] became secretary of justice. There was a fourth bureau for miscellaneous issues, which was put under [[Polybius (freedman)|Polybius]] until his execution for treason. The freedmen could also officially speak for the Emperor, as when Narcissus addressed the troops in Claudius's stead before the [[Roman conquest of Britain|conquest of Britain]].<ref name="Tac">{{harvnb|Tacitus|loc=XII 65}}. Seneca ''[[s:Of Consolation: To Polybius|Ad Polybium]]''.</ref>

Since these were important positions, the senators were aghast at their being placed in the hands of former slaves and "well-known [[eunuch]]s".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Scholz|first=Piotr O.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KikEAQAAIAAJ|title=Eunuchs and Castrati: A Cultural History|date=2001|publisher=Markus Wiener Publishers|isbn=978-1-55876-200-8|location=|page=119|language=en}}</ref> If freedmen had total control of money, letters and law, it seemed it would not be hard for them to manipulate the Emperor. This is exactly the accusation put forth by ancient sources. However, these same sources admit that the freedmen were loyal to Claudius.<ref name="Tac"/>

He had shown himself to be similarly appreciative of their help, giving them due credit for policies which they advised; but punished them with just force if they showed treacherous inclinations, as was the case of Polybius and Pallas's brother, [[Antonius Felix|Felix]]. There is no evidence that the character of Claudius's policies and edicts changed with the rise and fall of the various freedmen, suggesting that he was firmly in control throughout.

Regardless of the extent of their political power, the freedmen did manage to amass wealth through their positions. Pliny the Elder describes several of them as being richer than [[Crassus]], the richest man of the [[Roman Republic|Republican era]].{{sfn|Pliny the Elder|loc=XXXIII xlvii 133–137}}