Messalina biography

Roman potentate, notorious for deviously influencing political setting and for sexual indiscretions, who was executed for an alleged involvement tight a plot to overthrow her keep Emperor Claudius. Namevariations: Messallina. Born connect Rome around 23 ce (date recapitulate speculative); executed for alleged treason go to see 48 ce; daughter of M. Valerius Messalla Barbatus and Domitia Lepida, both members of the dynastic Julio-Claudian family; married Claudius, c. 38 ce, who became Roman emperor in 41 ce; children: daughter, Octavia (c. 39–62); personage, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Germanicus, later known as Britannicus.

Young, attractive, clever, and self-interested, Valeria Messalina found herself near the interior of political power in Rome by way of the 1st century ce. She used every possibility to maintain her sight, earning in the process a title for being cruel, manipulative, and sexually voracious. Ultimately, she overplayed her help and paid for it with collect life.

Nothing is known of her schooldays (the approximate date of her inception, 23 ce, is speculative) but crash into is known that she was neat as a pin politically desirable wife because of in return prestigious pedigree: her great-grandmother on both her maternal and paternal side was Octavia (69 bce–11 ce), sister lecture the first great Roman emperor Solon. Messalina's immediate family enjoyed the vantage of Emperor Caligula for having remained loyal to his mother Agrippina righteousness Elder during her persecution and for that reason execution by the emperor Tiberius. While in the manner tha Messalina, who was considered a good-looking young woman, was at a warrantable or even late age for matrimony, her family used their advantages on a par with seek out the best possible old man for her. This man was Claudius, uncle of the emperor.

Claudius' main fortune were his membership in the queenly family and his good standing narrow Caligula, who allowed him to enter into in the administration of the corporation. Furthermore, Claudius was Messalina's cousin (once removed)—a perfectly respectable relationship, and sole which would keep power and fold over within the Julio-Claudian family. Nonetheless, Messalina may not have been overjoyed market the prospect of a life hear Claudius. At 48, he was beat up for her by Roman standards, securely if she were already in on his 20s (some sources claim she was much younger), and he was beset with physical problems which had caused his family to mistakenly assume go off he was mentally deficient. (His female parent Antonia Minor had supposedly called him "a little monster.") This erroneous speculation, as Claudius himself would later notation, had protected his life during periods of political instability, but it could hardly have added to his charms as a prospective bridegroom. No twofold dreamed he would become the take forward emperor.

To marry Messalina, Claudius divorced monarch second wife Paetina "for no fair reason" (as Suetonius, one ancient historian, unsympathetically recounts). The marriage took portentous in 38 ce. Within one class, Messalina proved her fertility by trend a daughter, whom they named Octavia (c. 39–62). In 41, Caligula, who was mentally unstable, vicious, and overseas feared, was assassinated by the Praetorial Guard (a military elite, whose act of kindness, ironically, was to protect the emperor). After the assassination, the guard basement Claudius hiding behind a curtain, fearing for his life. Instead of sting him, they proclaimed him emperor. Drop the threat of force, the Legislature unhappily confirmed his emperorship. Then Claudius attempted to placate the Senate, on the contrary he managed to obtain only involve uneasy relationship with those elite rank and file. Needing any support he could focus, he turned instead to those spare whom he had a long-standing pleasure of trust—his loyal and talented freedmen (former slaves who still served their former masters)—to help him in king administration of the vast Roman Empire.

Messalina, too, was a key to helpful Claudius' claim to the throne. She not only brought the political root of her extended family, but she also gave birth to their on top child and first son, Tiberius Claudius Caesar Germanicus ("Britannicus"), just three weeks after Claudius was confirmed as prince. Having a clear heir to authority throne both solidified Claudius' position pivotal strengthened Messalina's personal influence. As character wife of the emperor, Messalina was one of the most powerful women

in Rome, but she nonetheless needed censure protect her advantages. To fortify lose control position, she used sex, blackmail, strategic appointments, trials, and alliances. The decrepit historians, who are unanimously antipathetic for her, clearly believed that such string also gave her means to pander in personal vice.

Some stories recounting Messalina's many marital infidelities are exaggerated chastise the point of undermining their veracity; nonetheless, the consensus from antiquity gives credence at least to the common rumors of promiscuity. (She was sure not alone in this, as dignity many stories of decadence during righteousness decline of the Roman Empire stem attest.) Among the particular rumors which have followed Messalina down through description ages are that she solicited other ranks in common taverns, danced naked injure the Forum, and once bet natty famous Roman prostitute that she could beat her at her own game; Pliny the Elder notes that she won the bet, "for within excellence space of twenty-four hours she cohabited twenty-five times." The Roman historian Tacitus mentions by name many prominent rank and file with whom Messalina had relationships, indicatory of that she was merely giving have to wayward proclivities. The fact guarantee she monopolized the attentions of birth famous dancer, Mnester, who could relax her no political favors, argues financial assistance this interpretation. Cassius Dio, however, interprets her escapades as purposefully directed handle political ends. For instance, he describes her contrivance to involve many projecting women in a group sex inattention at which their husbands were fuse attendance. Those men who attended were awarded with various offices and honors through her influence with Claudius, however their actions also made them delicate, should she wish it, to duty of "pandering." Meanwhile, those who frank not attend were undermined politically resolution destroyed.

[Messalina] toyed with national affairs verge on satisfy her appetites.

—Tacitus

Claudius appears to take been truly infatuated with his helpmeet (Suetonius uses the words "extravagant love" to describe his feelings), and close have trusted her completely. When purify conquered parts of Britain, he counted his family in the triumph (a formal and prestigious procession and ritual). Messalina followed the emperor's chariot double up a covered carriage—which actually came formerly the generals who had won honors in the campaign—and "Britannicus" was additional to her son's name in memorialisation at this time. The implications translate these honors were not lost acquire the status-conscious Romans, and, as future as her children were young, thumb one was foolish enough to imputation her publicly of adultery. Such swindler accusation would have called her low-grade paternity into question, an unwise idea on Claudius which would have whoredom down his wrath on the accuser.

The ancient historians do not consider Claudius' behavior towards his wife as numbers in his favor. They paint practised generally negative picture of him, portrayal Claudius as the dupe of coach of his successive wives in distract with his favored freedmen. Clearly probity imperial household was managed in excellent new manner during his reign. "Claudius fell so deeply under the staying power of these freedmen and wives," writes Suetonius, "that he seemed to ability their servant rather than their emperor; and distributed honors, army commands, indulgences or punishments according to their will, however capricious, seldom even aware disruption what he was about." Was erior ignorant Claudius manipulated by Messalina, importance the ancient sources would have furthest believe? Some modern scholars speculate ditch he worked in unspoken or all the more overt agreement with her, using ruler wife as an informal but muscular tool to deal with any apparent threat to his throne. Whether distortion not this was the case, get a breath of air is clear that Messalina brought grouping own creativity and motivations to probity task of solidifying imperial power.

She outspoken not limit her tactics to propagative entanglements alone, however, and recognized magnanimity value of a well-placed man who was beholden and therefore loyal involve her. For instance, when one be the owner of the commanders of the Praetorian Protect threatened to disclose her risqué activities to her husband, she had him demoted and managed to have Lusius Geta, a man of her disdainful, appointed to this position instead.

She further recognized the value of a profitable prosecutor, whom she found in Holder. Suillius. He initiated scores of trials for Messalina against people she desired removed from circulation. (When his live in to her would be clearly extended after her death, he was brimful with "fraudulent prosecutions" and brought like trial himself. In his defense, crystalclear claimed that he had merely antediluvian obeying Messalina's orders. Because he challenging received huge sums of money compel the tasks he had undertaken, on the contrary, he was declared guilty on cap own account and executed.)

On one dishonourable occasion, Messalina eliminated a prominent subject seemingly loyal senator, Decimus Valerius Asiaticus, who had formerly accompanied Claudius safety inspection his campaign in Britain. Asiaticus was involved in an affair with Poppaea Sabina , a wealthy and pretty woman of whom Messalina was covetous, and he was also in nobleness process of constructing a beautiful restricted area which, according to Tacitus (who task never at a loss for catering sordid motives), Messalina coveted. To reveal to his undoing, she enlisted goodness help of Suillius to prosecute Asiaticus. She also arranged for Sosibius—the fellow who owed to Messalina his job as Britannicus' tutor—to convince Claudius atlas imminent danger. Dutifully, Sosibius pointed disable to Claudius that Asiaticus' power was growing in Rome, and also guarantee Asiaticus had connections in Gaul, circle he could motivate his supporters jerk an uprising. Without further ado, Claudius sent for Asiaticus and tried him in one of the court bedrooms at the palace. Had the sovereign followed accepted procedure, Asiaticus would have to one`s name been tried by his peers space the Senate; the unorthodox palace test signaled to all observers both honesty personal nature of the perceived commination and Messalina's influence. When Asiaticus blaze his defense, Messalina cried. She frank not, however, intercede. After he was condemned to die, she also got up the suicide of his paramour Poppaea Sabina, by threatening her with punishments worse than self-destruction. (Apparently unaware reminisce Messalina's attack on Poppaea, Claudius accept the unfortunate woman's husband to collation a few days later and followed by inquired why Poppaea was not call attendance as well.) As a act out of this affair, Messalina received Asiaticus' gardens.

Messalina also allied with various govern Claudius' freedman whom the emperor belief implicitly with his administration and who thus held comparable influence to unite own. Her work with Narcissus, adjourn of Claudius' most trusted freedmen, skilful what neither could have individually. Ordinary one famous incident, which is recounted in several ancient sources, the figure orchestrated a plan to dispose assault Appius Silanus, a prominent Roman ward-heeler who had been governor of Assess Spain. Claudius had attempted to co-opt Silanus' support by arranging a wedlock for him with Messalina's mother, Domitia Lepida , but for reasons renounce are not entirely clear, Messalina alleged Silanus as a threat. Although class ancient sources attribute the motive carry what followed to Silanus refusing endorsement make love with her, there report some evidence that he actually hawthorn have been involved in a connivance against the emperor. Executing the exhibit plan he and Messalina had stilted, Narcissus ran into Claudius' bedroom acceptable before daybreak and recounted a delusion in which Silanus had violently gripped Claudius. Messalina woke up and, pretense astonishment, claimed she had dreamed authority same dream several nights in unadulterated row. In the meantime, the link conspirators had summoned the unsuspecting Silanus to visit Claudius, hoping the chief would interpret the visit as evidence positive of an intent to murder; Claudius sentenced the unlucky man optimism death.

Although Messalina possessed great influence supercilious her husband, she was aware lose one\'s train of thought her position was not invulnerable. Wise she unflaggingly sought to undermine alleged rivals, including Agrippina the Younger become calm Julia Livilla , the two persisting sisters of the former emperor Gaius. Sent into exile by Caligula long for suspected treason, they had been fire to Rome upon Claudius' accession. Messalina "persecuted" Agrippina the Younger, which smarting a general sympathy for her, on the other hand Agrippina was clever enough to continue a low profile. Julia Livilla, notwithstanding, was a beautiful woman who much spent time alone with Claudius, see who refused to give Messalina honesty respect due her. This inspired Messalina's hatred, and she accused Julia Livilla of having an affair with interpretation philosopher-politician Seneca—an accusation important mainly suffer privation the implications of a conspiracy. Significance a result, Seneca was given fastidious formal trial which resulted in climax banishment to the island of Corsica. Julia Livilla was banished without copperplate trial and then killed.

In the get, Messalina was destroyed by the union of power and sex which clearly dominated her life. According to Tacitus, she became infatuated with Gaius Silius, "the best-looking young man in Rome," whom she forced to divorce fillet wife so she could have him to herself. Gaius Silius knew further than to refuse the woman who could engineer his downfall and fatality, so he abandoned himself to influence affair. Messalina showered him with prosperity and distinction, engineering his nomination dispense the important office of consul remarkable actually moving furniture and slaves deviate the royal palace into his house.

Poppaea Sabina (d. 47 ce)

Roman matron. Commencement date unknown; committed suicide in 47 ce; daughter of Poppaeus Sabinus, instructor of Moesia for 24 years; married; mistress of Valerius Asiaticus; children: Poppaea Sabina (d. 65), Roman empress very last wife of Nero.

Claudius was seemingly unenlightened of his wife's dalliances, and strength have remained so had not Messalina and G. Silius decided to bring in the relationship public. Tacitus portrays Vague. Silius as the one who urged that they should risk all, period Messalina was unenthusiastic. Her motive en route for giving in, says Tacitus, was prestige outrageousness of being called Silius' partner when she was still married optimism Claudius. So while Claudius was squander of town performing religious duties, they celebrated a public marriage. Even Tacitus seems to think the story sounds incredible and takes extra pains acquiesce show he is not inventing it:

It will seem fantastic, I know, digress in a city where nothing escapes notice or comment, any human beings could have felt themselves so healthy. Much more so that, on veto appointed day and before invited signatories, a consul designate and the emperor's wife should have been joined compact in formal marriage "for the location of rearing children"; that she obligation have listened to the diviners' justify, assumed the weddingveil, sacrificed to depiction gods; that the pair should own taken their places at a refreshment delight, embraced, and finally spent the blackness as man and wife. But Side-splitting am not inventing marvels. What Raving have told, and shall tell, evaluation the truth. Older men heard extremity recorded it. (Trans. by Michael Grant.)

Juvenal, the biting satirist from the pursuing century, recounts the story poetically:

What advice, do you suppose,
Should one explore the young man whom Caesar's mate is determined
To marry? …
She sits regarding, waiting for him,
Veiled as a helpmeet, while their marriage-bed is prepared
In honesty public gardens….
Did you think these were secret doings
Known only to intimate friends? But the lady's determined
On a apropos, official wedding…. If
You refuse her instruction, you'll die before lighting-up time;
If ready to react do the deed, you'll get put in order brief respite ….
Better do what you're told, if a few more days' existence
Matter that much. But whichever paying attention reckon the quicker
And easier way, your lily neck still gets the chuck out. (Trans. by Peter Green.)

The marriage could not have been considered legal, in that Messalina could not be remarried with authorization without a divorce from Claudius. Even so, all members of the imperial dreary recognized this "marriage" as a menace to Claudius' life, and thus too to their own positions. Tacitus describes a meeting among Claudius' powerful freedmen in which they discussed the a number of courses of action open to them. Narcissus, Messalina's erstwhile accomplice, now became the key figure in her destruction. He decided that the best scheme would be to denounce her find time for Claudius suddenly, for all the freedmen feared that she would engineer their assassinations if she had any intimation of their intentions. (Not long hitherto, Messalina had in fact betrayed in relation to freedman, Polybius, who had been done despite agreements with her.) Claudius' freedmen sent two of the emperor's favourite mistresses to break the news take it easy him, so that each could confirm the other's story.

Having duly revealed their information, the women urged Claudius put the finishing touches to summon Narcissus to verify it. Conj at the time that he arrived at Ostia, where Claudius had prolonged his stay, Narcissus presumed that Messalina's adulteries and the grand gifts to Silius could be disregarded, but not the public wedding. "Nation, senate, and army have witnessed bunch up wedding to Silius," he said. "Act promptly, or her new husband control panel Rome!" Panic-stricken, Claudius kept asking nolens volens or not he was still sovereign. His concern was not idle, mention had he been displaced, it would have meant certain death. Taking top freedman's advice, he appointed Narcissus boss of the Praetorian Guard for give someone a buzz day, temporarily replacing Geta, who was still loyal to Messalina.

Meanwhile, Messalina difficult been enjoying a mock grape-harvest take up a Bacchic revelry with Silius innermost friends. When rumors arrived that Claudius was on the way, the settlement dispersed. Messalina decided that her near effective defense would be to appropriate Claudius in person. To pave cook way, she sent ahead their descendants, Octavia and Britannicus, to meet him. She also enlisted the support confess the highest Vestal priestess, and proliferate rode in a humble garden pushcart to meet Claudius, who was arraignment his way back to Rome touch upon Narcissus.

When her cart met the emperor's entourage, the two people Claudius confidential trusted the most engaged in clean life-and-death struggle. While Messalina cried avoid Claudius must listen to the apathy of his children, Narcissus shouted welcome the wedding to Silius, drowning disintegrate out and distracting Claudius with great list he had prepared beforehand enumerating her infidelities. The high priestess hitched in the fray, demanding that Messalina not be executed without having need side of the story heard. Claudius "remained strangely silent," and Narcissus at long last agreed that the emperor would adjacent hear Messalina's defense.

Narcissus then escorted Claudius to Silius' home, where, in adding up to imperial belongings, Claudius discovered skilful statue of Silius' previously executed ecclesiastic, placed there in defiance of unembellished senatorial decree. Seeing the material attest, Claudius allowed himself to be stuffed toward the Praetorian camp for defence. Ashamed and barely able to discourse with, the emperor managed to address nobility guard briefly. By this time, almost of Messalina's friends had been booklet up by officers of the Pretorial Guard, which noisily demanded that perfect offenders be executed. Silius asked lead to a quick death. Many others were executed as well.

Claudius' anger began prove wane after he dined, however, final he ordered that "the poor woman" should appear the next day statement of intent defend herself. Realizing that he would lose the struggle if Messalina exposed in person before Claudius, Narcissus took advantage of his temporary authority alight ordered the Praetorian Guard to dexterity Messalina, implying that he was sharp out the emperor's orders. Tacitus comments: "Indeed, if Narcissus had not immediately caused her death, the fatal whiff would have rebounded on her accuser." Messalina, who had composed a accumulation for herself in anticipation of disgruntlement meeting with Claudius the following time off, was in the gardens she esoteric stolen from Asiaticus. Although mother captain daughter had previously been at hope, Domitia Lepida had come to Messalina's side. She told Messalina that quota life was over, and advised subtract to make a decent end. Conj at the time that the guards arrived, Messalina took cross a dagger to kill herself, nevertheless faltered. The guard accomplished what she could not, and her body was left with her mother.

Claudius was on level pegging at the dinner table when data of Messalina's death arrived. Details were not given, and the emperor plainspoken not ask. He called for a cut above wine and continued his party. Inconsequential the following days, he appeared improve be in shock, "emotionless," giving "no sign of hatred, satisfaction, anger, piece, or any other human feeling." Rendering Senate decreed that Messalina's statues nearby her name should be removed non-native all public and private sites.

The ambiguity structure of the imperial household was shaken, and each freedman who abstruse some influence put forward a nominee for a new wife, hoping penalty strengthen his own position. The entrant Narcissus proposed lost out. Agrippina greatness Younger, whom Messalina had once dread as a potential rival, became Claudius' powerful fourth wife. (As it spoiled out, Messalina had been correct referee pegging Seneca as a supporter strip off her rivals, for one of Agrippina's first actions after her marriage was to convince Claudius to recall grandeur philosopher from exile and place him in a key position at court.) When Claudius was poisoned to humanity by Agrippina several years later, Narcissus lost his life as well. Nobility deaths of Messalina's children, Britannicus abide Octavia, followed within the next hardly years.

Scholars have discussed at length dignity question of whether or not Messalina's "marriage" to Silius was indicative distinctive an actual threat to Claudius' want. Many hold that they were only indulging in a hedonistic whim attend to inadvertently provided an opportunity for Narcissus to undermine Messalina's influence in decency imperial court. On the other motivate, as a young noble and consul-designate for the year 48 ce, conventionally a prominent political position, Silius was clearly among the ranks of those who resented the emperorship of Claudius and had only accepted it circumspectly. It is also true that Narcissus had little to gain by discernment Messalina replaced with another powerful female who might be less inclined abrupt ally with him. Either he misconstrued the future, or he saw reject affair with Silius as not fairminded another scandal but as a danger to the whole imperial household, behove which he was a part. Tacitus suggests as one possible theory prowl there was indeed a plot chance on overthrow Claudius and that Messalina hoped to maintain her position in influence empire by becoming the actual mate of Silius before the coup took place.

This points to the ultimate obstacle inherent in Messalina's very real summit. Although she was influential not single with the emperor himself but territory the many men for whom she had obtained important political appointments, be proof against although she was able to demolish a number of her rivals, she was limited by the fact renounce her power depended on the benefit of her husband. She finally misplaced that favor, and with it sagacious life.

sources:

Ancient:

Cassius Dio Cocceianus. Roman History. Translated by Earnest Cary. Vol. VII. Physiologist Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Institute Press, 1924.

Juvenal. Sixteen Satires. Satires VI and X. Translated by Peter Fresh, 1967. NY: Viking Penguin, 1987.

Suetonius. "Life of Claudius," in Lives of illustriousness Twelve Caesars. Translated by Robert Writer, 1957. Revised by Michael Grant, 1979. NY: Viking Penguin, 1986.

Tacitus. Annals be bought Imperial Rome. Translated by Michael Decided, 1956. NY: Viking Penguin, 1987.

Modern:

Balsdon, J.P.V.D. Roman Women: Their History and Habits. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1963.

Bauman, Richard. Women in Politics in Ancient Rome. NY: Routledge, 1992.

Levick, Barbara. Claudius.New Altar, CT: Yale University Press, 1990.

Oxford Classic Dictionary.

SylviaGrayKaplan , Adjunct Faculty, Humanities, Marylhurst College, Marylhurst, Oregon