Jacobus Claudius, Duke of Adrianople

Catapan His Grace The Duke of Adrianople EE EAA MCG ECC MCC ESM
Consul of Latium
In office 29 January 1947 – 31 March 1955
Monarch	Diana Augusta
Preceded by	John Arrius
Succeeded by	The Marchis of Espo
Master of Offices Count of the Chancery
In office 19 April 1945 – 31 October 1976
Monarch	Diana Augusta
Preceded by	Flavian Appulei
Succeeded by	The Duke of Rhenus (as Master of Offices) The Prince Consort (as Count of the Chancery)
Lord Palatine of the Occidens Propraetor of Adrianople, Oea & Haenna
In office 1 June 1930 – 31 October 1976
Monarch	Diana Augusta
Preceded by	The Duke of Adrianople
Succeeded by	vacant
Senator for Adrianople Palatium
In office 1 June 1930 – 31 October 1976
Preceded by	Theodosius Claudius, Duke of Adrianople
Succeeded by	The Duke of Samnium
4th Latin Ambassador to Vannois
In office 22 February 1924 – 1 June 1929
Monarch	John XIII Constantine XIX
Preceded by	The Count of Cincium
Succeeded by	Konstantinos Angelos
Personal details
Born	Gaius Claudius Nero Iason Felix Alexander 18 May 1900 Adrianople, Latium
Died	31 October 1976(1976-10-31) (aged 76) Castellum, Latium
Nationality	Latin
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Agnes Selicia (m. 1921)
Relations	Claudii dynasty
Children	4 (inc. Leo, Prince Consort)
Alma mater	Olympia
Military service
Allegiance	Latium
Branch/service	Latin Army
Years of service	1916–1950
Rank	Catapan
Battles/wars	1920 War Social War Second Liothidian-Vannoisian War

Catepan Jason Claudius, Duke of Adrianople, EE EAA MCG ECC MCC ESM (Gaius Claudius Nero Iason Felix Alexander; 18 May 1900 – 31 October 1976), was a Latin noble, general, statesman, and one of the leading political and military figures in Latium during the mid-20th century.

Born in 1900, Jason was the eldest son of Theodosius Claudius, Duke of Adrianople and Isabella Claudia. Claudius was a male-line member of Claudii dynasty. Under an alternative succession to the Latin throne, Claudius would have been Emperor Jason VI. His first government appointment was as Latin Ambassador to Vannois, serving from 1924 until 1929. He was rumored to have been selected for the posting due to lobbying by his grandfather and subsequent marriage to Latin noblewoman Agnes Selicia.

Claudius first served as Centurion in the Latin military from 1932 until 1937, with a military tribunate in 1933 onward. He was promoted directly from Tribune to Legate in 1937, a position he served in until the Social War. In 1945 he was appointed Catapan of Imperial Latin Armed Forces during the Social War by Empress Diana following the 1945 Coup. During the Social War, Claudius quickly led Imperial forces to a string of victories in the surrender of Castellum, Pola and Ravenna. The war ended in 1949 following the Battle of Alexandria and the capture or death of members of the Social Republic high command. Claudius also served as Caretaker Consul from 1946 until 1955, securing victory over the Social Republic and later working on modernizing the Latin government. He served as a Life Senator from 1930 until his death in 1976. Claudius remains the longest serving Master of Offices in Latin history, with a term of 36 years.

Claudius is known as one of the greatest Latins of the 20th century for his swift and decisive actions at the onset of the Social War in support of the Imperial cause. Though not without controversy, Claudius was widely criticized for his poor and often brutal treatment of POWs and is even believed to have ordered the hands and tongue of Orestes Cotta nailed to the Senate doors in Alexandria after Cotta's body was discovered in his bunker following the Battle of Alexandria.

Early Life and Education

Gaius Claudius Nero Iason Felix Alexander was born 18 May 1900 at Palatium Supranio in Adrianople to Theodosius Claudius, then Count of Philadelphia, and his wife Isabella Claudia. Claudius had two younger sisters, Anna and Marcia and a younger brother Michael. He is a direct male-line descendant of Emperor Philip I, the first Catholic Latin Emperor. Under an alternative succession to the Latin throne, Claudius would have been Emperor Jason VI.Through his paternal grandmother he can trace ancestry through The Dukes of Rhenus, The Doux of Akropolites and other members of Latin nobility. He was baptized by Archbishop George Balventius of Castellum at Sacra Basilica de Angeli Gabriel on 2 June 1900. He was reportedly cherished by his grandfather.

Claudius was primarily educated at home, upon the direction of his grandfather, by private tutors in Adrianople. Most of his early lessons consisted of history, language, literature, music and later warfare. From 1912 until 1916, Claudius was sent to Alexandria where he was a member of the Imperial Court of John XIII. His father was a prominent author of a series of books on Latin politics, including "Who Govern's Latium" and "Modern Latin Politics."

Marriage and Issue

The Duke married Latin noblewoman Agnes Selicia, in 1921. They had four children:

• Maria Claudia (1925–2003); married Honorius XVI of Onneria. Had issue.
• Theodora Claudia (b. 1927); married X. Had issue.
• Leo, Prince Consort (1930–1997); married Diana Augusta, 1952. Had issue.
• Isidorus Claudius, Duke of Samnium (b. 1935); married Princess Juliette of Moieux. Had issue.

Styles, titles, honors and arms

• 18 May 1900 – 12 November 1924: Count Corcyra
• 12 November 1924 – 1 June 1930: Marchis of Philadelphia
• 1 June 1930 – 31 October 1976: His Grace The Duke of Adrianople

His full titles and styles were: His Grace, Jason Claudius, Duke of Adrianople, Duke of Tolosa, Marchis of Philadelphia, Count of Corcyra, Count of Colonia Julia, Viscount of Aarhusium, High Lord of Gelonia, Lord of Oea, Lord of Olympia, Lord of Durolipons, Master of the Aventine, and Hereditary Prefect of the West, Propraetor of Adrianople and the counties adjacent.

National decorations

• Latium: Knight of the Most Noble Order of St. Maria
• Latium: Member of the Order of the Civic Crown
• Latium: Member of the Order of the Grass Crown
• Latium: Knight of the Sacred Order of Golden Eagle
• Latium: Knight Ancient Equestrian Order

Dynastic decorations

• 1 June 1927 Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Foreign decorations

• Sydalon: Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
• Order of Saint Joseph: Member of the Order of Saint Joseph

See also

• House of Claudius