The Roman Emperor Claudius I is popularly depicted as either a bumbling fool, or a secret genius pretending to be a bumbling fool. What is the historical evidence for either view? -
![Image of BRITISH LIBRARY. - Hamlet. Claudius Is Angry After Watching An Enactment Of King Hamlet's Death. Polonius Is Behind A Curtain. Act III, Scene II, From 'Hamlet'.. Full Credit: British Library / Image of BRITISH LIBRARY. - Hamlet. Claudius Is Angry After Watching An Enactment Of King Hamlet's Death. Polonius Is Behind A Curtain. Act III, Scene II, From 'Hamlet'.. Full Credit: British Library /](https://www.granger.com/wmpix/woh/mis/0525597-BRITISH-LIBRARY-Hamlet-Claudius-is-angry-after-watching-an-enactment-of-King-Hamlets-death-Polonius-is-behind-a-curtain-Act-III-scene-II-from-Hamlet-Full-credit-British-Library--Granger-NYC----All-rights.jpg)
Image of BRITISH LIBRARY. - Hamlet. Claudius Is Angry After Watching An Enactment Of King Hamlet's Death. Polonius Is Behind A Curtain. Act III, Scene II, From 'Hamlet'.. Full Credit: British Library /
![Claudius, the 4th emperor of Rome, had to be dragged out from behind curtains — proclaiming claudius emperor — milo 3oneseven Claudius, the 4th emperor of Rome, had to be dragged out from behind curtains — proclaiming claudius emperor — milo 3oneseven](https://3oneseven.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Claudius-the-4th-emperor-of-Rome-had-to-be-dragged-out-from-behind-curtains.jpg)
Claudius, the 4th emperor of Rome, had to be dragged out from behind curtains — proclaiming claudius emperor — milo 3oneseven
![File:Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, RA, OM - A Roman Emperor (Claudius) - Walters 37165.jpg - Wikimedia Commons File:Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, RA, OM - A Roman Emperor (Claudius) - Walters 37165.jpg - Wikimedia Commons](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Sir_Lawrence_Alma-Tadema%2C_RA%2C_OM_-_A_Roman_Emperor_%28Claudius%29_-_Walters_37165.jpg)
File:Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, RA, OM - A Roman Emperor (Claudius) - Walters 37165.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
![Friendly atmosphere in a quiet but very central spot of Bochum - Review of Claudius, Bochum, Germany - Tripadvisor Friendly atmosphere in a quiet but very central spot of Bochum - Review of Claudius, Bochum, Germany - Tripadvisor](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/0d/23/62/claudius.jpg)
Friendly atmosphere in a quiet but very central spot of Bochum - Review of Claudius, Bochum, Germany - Tripadvisor
![Claudius aka Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (10 BC – AD 54) was Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54. Because he was afflicted with a limp and slight deafness due to Claudius aka Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (10 BC – AD 54) was Roman emperor from AD 41 to 54. Because he was afflicted with a limp and slight deafness due to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/WACMA0/claudius-aka-tiberius-claudius-caesar-augustus-germanicus-10-bc-ad-54-was-roman-emperor-from-ad-41-to-54-because-he-was-afflicted-with-a-limp-and-slight-deafness-due-to-sickness-at-a-young-age-he-was-excluded-from-public-office-in-41ad-caligula-was-assassinated-in-a-conspiracy-involving-the-praetorian-commander-cassius-chaerea-and-several-senators-following-the-murder-claudius-witnessed-the-guards-execute-several-noblemen-including-his-friends-and-fled-to-the-palace-to-hide-where-a-praetorian-named-gratus-found-him-behind-a-curtain-and-declared-him-imperator-WACMA0.jpg)