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Monday, July 13, 2026

 In Tacitus’s Annals Book 11, sections 31 and 33, there is no formal judicial judgment passed by Emperor Claudius on the Praetorian Prefect Lusius Geta. Instead, these sections describe the political panic surrounding the coup of Messalina and Gaius Silius, where Claudius's advisors evaluate Geta's unreliable character and temporarily strip him of command for the day. [1]

The exact Latin text from the The Latin Library and the English translation for both sections are detailed below. [1]
Annals 11.31: Claudius Questions Geta
In this passage, Geta confesses the truth about Messalina’s bigamous marriage when questioned by Claudius. [12]
  • Latin: "Tum potissimumquemque amicorum vocat... percontatur. quis fatentibus certatim ceteri circumstrepunt..."
  • English: "Claudius then summoned all his most powerful friends... When they confessed the truth, the whole company clamoured in concert..." [12]
Annals 11.33: The Decision on Geta [1]
Narcissus persuades Claudius that Geta is untrustworthy, leading to the temporary transfer of military command away from him for that day. [12]
  • Latin: "Trepidabatur nihilo minus a Caesare: quippe Getae praetorii praefecto haud satis fidebant... non aliam spem incolumitatis Caesaris adfirmat quam si ius militum uno illo die in aliquem libertorum transferret..." [1]
  • English: "There was no less trepidation among Claudius' party; since there was insufficient confidence in Geta... the only hope of saving the emperor was to transfer command of the guards to one of the freedmen..." [12]
Note: For the full, original Latin and English text as cited in, and, please refer to the primary sources. [1234]

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