I, Claudius Season 1 - Episode 1 May 2026

Augustus maintains the illusion of a Republic while wielding absolute power.

The mastermind; she uses poison and social engineering as her primary weapons.

Morose and reluctant, he feels like a pawn in his mother’s grand design. I, Claudius Season 1 - Episode 1

The narrative shifts back to 24 BC during the reign of Augustus. The Emperor celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of Actium, but tension simmers beneath the surface. Augustus favors his nephew Marcellus as his heir, much to the silent fury of Livia, Augustus’s wife. Livia is determined to see her own son, Tiberius, take the throne at any cost. Key Plot Points

The deadliest threats to the Roman elite come from within their own dining rooms. Augustus maintains the illusion of a Republic while

I, Claudius (1976) – Episode 1: "A Touch of Murder" The series opens in 54 AD with an elderly, frail Emperor Claudius. He is writing his secret history, fearing his wife Agrippina intends to poison him. He reflects on his family’s past to explain how he became the unlikely survivor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Livia manipulates Augustus into marrying his daughter Julia to Marcellus to solidify the succession. The narrative shifts back to 24 BC during

Briefly seen as a child, already being mocked for his stammer and physical limp. Notable Themes