A very paranoid old Claudius, emperor of Rome, nears the end of his life commences to write his family's history. The Sybil had forseen that his story will be found in 1900 years (now). The memoir begins before his birth, during the rule of Augustus. Augustus is married to the beautiful treacherous Livia. Livia tries to get rid of anyone blocking her plot to have her son (from an early marriage), Tiberius, inherit Augustus throne. Tiberius must marry Julia, Augustus daughter. Livia first step is to poison Marcellus, Julias husband. Rome is in caos and Augustus begs Agrippa to return. Unforntunately, for Livia, Agrippas price for returning is to wed Julia.