I, Claudius is a historical drama television series from 1976 based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Robert Graves. The series follows the life of Claudius, the fourth Roman Emperor, from his rise to power to his death. In the series, Claudius' role is that of Nero, the fifth Roman Emperor. Nero was known for his extravagance and cruelty, and his reign was marked by civil wars, political turmoil, and religious persecution. He was eventually overthrown and committed suicide in 68 AD.