CLAUDIUS2. Marcus Claudius was a client of Appius the judge, who was seized with lust for Verginia, daughter of Verginius. He came before Appius, as prearranged, and claimed that Verginia was his slave, that Verginius had abducted and stolen her from him, and that Verginius now claimed her as his daughter. The plan was that, after Appius had awarded Verginia to Claudius, Claudius would give her to Appius (Livy, Ab urbe condita liber III.xliv-lviii). Livy calls the man Marcus Claudius. Gower narrates that "Claudius" was the other name of Apius and that Marcus Claudius was his brother (Confessio Amantis VII.5131-5306). Gower here shows some acquaintance with the system of Roman names; by "other name" he evidently means the family name, which was Claudius. Jean de Meun also calls him Claudius, RR 5651.
Claudius is the churl whom Apius bribes to carry out his plan for securing Virginia in The Physician's Tale. [Apius: Virginia: Virginius]
The name appears in final rhyming position, PhysT 153, 179, 269.