Why was the Roman Senate uncertain about Claudius’s rule at first?

The Roman Senate’s initial uncertainty regarding Claudius’s rule stemmed from the irregular and unexpected manner in which he ascended to power. Following the murder of his nephew, the emperor Caligula, in 41 CE, Claudius was not appointed by the Senate but was instead proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard, the imperial household troops who had discovered him in the palace.12

Because his authority was derived from the military rather than a senatorial mandate, the Senate viewed his position with ambiguity. This tension persisted throughout his reign; many senators supported a failed rebellion in 42 CE, and several subsequent assassination attempts against Claudius involved members of the senatorial and knightly orders. Although Claudius attempted to show respect for the Senate by returning certain administrative responsibilities to them, he remained reliant on the support of the army and his own courtiers, often acting ruthlessly toward individual senators who opposed him. Consequently, the relationship between the emperor and the aristocratic class remained strained, characterized by mutual distrust.23