Editing Claudius (section)

===Expansion of the Empire===
[[File:Head of Claudius or Nero BM 1965,1201.1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Bronze head of Claudius found in the [[River Alde]] at [[Rendham]], near [[Saxmundham]], Suffolk ([[British Museum]]). Potentially looted from the [[Temple of Claudius, Colchester|Temple of Claudius]] in [[Camulodunum|Colonia Victricensis]] (now [[Colchester]]) during the [[Boudican revolt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/b/bronze_head_of_claudius.aspx|title= Head of the Emperor Claudius|publisher=British Museum}}</ref>]]
Claudius conducted a census in 48 that found 5,984,072 (adult male) Roman citizens{{sfn|Scramuzza|1940|loc=Chap. 7, p. 142}} (women, children, slaves, and free adult males without Roman citizenship were not counted), an increase of around a million since the census conducted at Augustus's death. He had helped increase this number through the foundation of Roman colonies that were granted blanket [[Roman citizenship|citizenship]]. These colonies were often made out of existing communities, especially those with elites who could rally the populace to the Roman cause. Several colonies were placed in new provinces or on the border of the Empire to secure Roman holdings as quickly as possible.

Additionally under Claudius, the Empire underwent its first major territorial expansion since the reign of Augustus. The provinces of [[Thrace]], [[Noricum]], [[Lycia]], and [[Judaea (Roman province)|Judea]] were [[annexation|annexed]] (or put under direct rule) under various circumstances during his term. The annexation of [[Mauretania]], begun under Caligula, was completed after the defeat of rebel forces, as well as the official division of the former client kingdom into two Imperial provinces.{{sfn|Pliny the Elder|loc=5.1–5.2}}{{sfn|Cassius Dio|loc=60.8, 60.9}}

====The British Campaign====
{{See also|Roman conquest of Britain}}
The most far-reaching conquest however was that of Britannia:{{sfn|Scramuzza|1940|loc=chapter 9}} In 43, Claudius sent [[Aulus Plautius]] with four [[Roman legion|legions]] to Britain (''Britannia'') after an appeal from an ousted tribal ally. Britain was an attractive target for Rome because of its mines and the potential of slave labor, as well as being a haven for [[Gaul|Gallic]] rebels. Claudius himself traveled to the island after the completion of initial offensives, bringing with him reinforcements and elephants. The Roman ''[[Colonia (Roman)|colonia]]'' of ''Colonia Claudia Victricensis'' was established as the provincial capital of the newly established [[Roman Britain|province of Britannia]] at [[Camulodunum]], where a large [[Temple of Claudius, Colchester|temple was dedicated in his honour]].

He left Britain after 16 days, but remained in the provinces for some time. The Senate granted him a [[Roman triumph|triumph]] for his efforts. Only members of the Imperial family were allowed such honours, but Claudius subsequently lifted this restriction for some of his conquering generals. He was granted the honorific "Britannicus" but only accepted it on behalf of his son, never using the title himself. When the British general [[Caractacus]] was captured in 50, Claudius granted him clemency. Caractacus lived out his days on land provided by the Roman state, an unusual end for an enemy commander.