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==== Expansion of the Empire====
Despite his disabilities and his scholarly pursuits, Claudius was an aggressive Emperor. He did not heed Augustus advice not to expand the Empire and if possible to rule through client kings. Claudius had an idea that the Empire should be highly centralized and that direct rule was the best option. This means that he launched a campaign to annex client kingdoms.<ref>Levick, p119</ref>.
In his reign, he fully incorporated Mauretania, Judea, Noricum, and Thrace into the Empire. This expansion became necessary because areas such as Thrace had become unstable. Claudius was concerned that instability in these regions could intensify and spread. Claudius deposed many client-kings and imposed direct rule.