Polybius (freedman)


Gaius Julius Polybius was a freedman of Emperor Claudius who was elevated to the secretariat during his reign.

Early Career

He was a freedmen of Claudius and assisted him in his literary, judicial and historical pursuits as a researcher before the emperor's accession. Is name indicate he originally belonged to the Julii.

Emperor Claudius

A studiis

In January 41 AD, Claudius became emperor and Polybius' gained an official role in the imperial bureaucracy, with the title A studiis. The a studiis was the Imperial Secretary of Research and Records. It was one of the key "Palatine" offices created or expanded by Claudius to centralize power within the Emperor's household. He was one of three major administrators along with Pallas and Narcissus under Claudius.
Suetonius, the biographer and secretary to the Emperor Hadrian, claims that Claudius was so appreciative of his help that Polybius was allowed to walk between the consuls when on official business.

Ad Polybium

Around 43 AD, when Polybius lost a brother, the exiled Seneca the Younger wrote his famous Ad Polybium in response to flatter Polybus. The intent seems to have been to gain Polybius' support for Seneca's recall to Rome. In the work, Polybius is praised for his loyalty to Claudius, but is also admonished that service to an emperor must come before grief. It had no effect on the freedman and Seneca remained in exile.

Execution

In 47 CE, disloyalty led Polybius to his downfall. He was executed for crimes against the state, supporting the view that freedmen were still in a position inferior to emperor, whatever their influence. Ancient historians claimed that Empress Messalina arranged for his death when she tired of him as a lover.

Legacy

He was probably the father of a prominent politician Caius Julius Polybius, whose house was found in Pompeii.