Valeria Messalina (PIR¹ V 161) , sometimes spelled Messallina (c. 20-48) was a Roman Empress and third wife to Roman Emperor Claudius. It has been suggested that Fall of the Julio-Claudian be merged into this article or section. ... Augustus (Latin: IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•AVGVSTVS;[1] September 23, 63 BC–August 19, AD 14), known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (English Octavian; Latin: C•IVLIVS•C•F•CAESAR•OCTAVIANVS) for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, was the first and among the most important of... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ... Gaius Julius Caesar Vipsanianus (20 BC - AD 4), most commonly known as Gaius Caesar, was the oldest son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder. ... Lucius Julius Caesar (17 BC-2 AD), most commonly known as Lucius Caesar, was the second son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder. ... Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Postumus, (12 BC-14 AD) also known as Agrippa Postumus or Postumus Agrippa, was a son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder. ... Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16, 42 BC – March 16 AD 37), was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37. ... Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16, 42 BC – March 16 AD 37), was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37. ... Drusus the Younger, son of Tiberius. ... Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC–October 10, 19 AD) was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of the early Roman Empire. ... Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31, 12 – January 24, 41 AD), most commonly known as Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 37 to AD 41. ... For the identically named daughter of Germanicus, see Drusilla. ... Tiberius Gemellus, son of Drusus the Younger and Livilla Tiberius Julius Caesar Nero , known as Tiberius Gemellus, (10 October AD 19–AD 37 or 38) was the son of Drusus and Livilla, the grandson of Tiberius, and the cousin of Gaius Caligula. ... For other persons named Claudius, see Claudius (disambiguation). ... Antonia (30–66 AD) was Claudius only child from his second marriage to Aelia Paetina. ... Octavia was the name of three women of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty of ancient Rome: two were sisters of Augustus Caesar, and the younger was the daughter of Claudius and wife of Nero. ... Britannicus (41 - 55 A.D.) was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. ... Nero[1] Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (54–68). ... Nero[1] Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (54–68). ... Claudia Augusta was the only daughter of the Roman Emperor Nero by his second wife Poppaea Sabina. ... Events Roman Empire Tiberias is built on the Sea of Galilee by Herod Antipas, in honour of Tiberius. ... Events Rome Roman Emperor Claudius invests Agrippa II with the office of superintendent of the Temple in Jerusalem. ... For other persons named Claudius, see Claudius (disambiguation). ...

Life

Family

Valeria Messalina was the only daughter of Domitia Lepida and Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus (PIR¹ V 88; Suetonius, Vita Claudii, 26.29). Her father (a Roman consul) was the son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus, a Roman senator and twice consul. His mother was Claudia Marcella Minor. Messalina's mother, Domitia Lepida, was the youngest child and daughter to Antonia Major and the consul Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Her full blooded brother was Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus (consul 58 AD). Bust of Domitia Lepida (?), mother of Messalina Domitia Lepida (PIR2 D 180), sometimes known simply as Lepida (c. ... Marcus Valerius Messala Barbatus Messalinus (12 BC - AD 20/21) was a Senator of ancient Rome. ... Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus was the son of the famous orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, whom he resembled in character. ... Claudia Marcella was the name of both daughters of Octavia Minor (Octavia Thurina Minor), the sister of Caesar Augustus, from her first husband, the consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor. ... Bust of Domitia Lepida (?), mother of Messalina Domitia Lepida (PIR2 D 180), sometimes known simply as Lepida (c. ... Julia Antonia Cretica Major (Latin for “the elder”) (b. ... Ahenobarbus (brazen-bearded or red-haired) is the name of a plebeian Roman family of the gens Domitia. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

Her grandmothers were half sisters and the nieces to Rome’s first Emperor Caesar Augustus and daughters to Augustus’ elder sister Octavia Minor. Claudia Marcella Minor was the youngest daughter of Octavia Minor from her first marriage to Roman Consul and Senator Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor. Antonia Major was the eldest daughter of Octavia Minor from her second marriage to Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Augustus (Latin: IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•AVGVSTVS;[1] September 23, 63 BC–August 19, AD 14), known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (English Octavian; Latin: C•IVLIVS•C•F•CAESAR•OCTAVIANVS) for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, was the first and among the most important of... For other Roman noble women of this name see Octavia (69 - 11 BC.) Octavia Thurina Minor was one of the most prominent women in Roman history, respected and admired by contemporaries for her loyalty, nobility and humanity and for maintaining traditional Roman feminine virtues. ... See Gaius Claudius Marcellus for other men of this name, or Gaius Claudius Marcellus Major for his cousin, consul of 49 BC. Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor, Roman consul in 50 BC, husband of Octavia Minor, and friend of Cicero. ... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N[1]) ( January 14 83 BC–August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. ...

Her father died in 20/21. Lepida later remarried to Faustus Cornelius Sulla Lucullus III, to whom she bore a son, Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix. This younger half-brother of Messalina was married in 47 to Claudius' elder daughter, Claudia Antonia. Faustus Cornelius Sulla Lucullus III was a son of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Faustus, who was a descendant of the Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Aemilia Lepida. ... Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix ( 22 - 62 AD) was one of the lesser known figures of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of ancient Rome. ... This article is about the year 47. ... Antonia (30–66 AD) was Claudius only child from his second marriage to Aelia Paetina. ...

Marriage to Claudius

Around 38, she married her second cousin Claudius; there was a large age gap between them. It is unlikely that this was her first marriage considering her age (20 or older), but there is little information about her early life. At the time Messalina was a wealthy, influential figure and a regular in the court of then Emperor Gaius Caligula. Claudius was Gaius Caligula’s paternal uncle and was likewise becoming very influential and popular; he probably needed to marry Messalina to strengthen his ties to the Imperial Court. For alternate uses, see Number 38. ... Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (August 31, 12 – January 24, 41 AD), most commonly known as Caligula, was the third Roman Emperor and a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 37 to AD 41. ...

They had two children: a daughter Claudia Octavia, who was first wife to future Emperor Nero, and a son called Britannicus. Octavia was the name of three women of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty of ancient Rome: two were sisters of Augustus Caesar, and the younger was the daughter of Claudius and wife of Nero. ... Nero[1] Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (54–68). ... Britannicus (41 - 55 A.D.) was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Messalina. ...

Reputation

The unstable Caligula was assassinated on 24 January 41. Claudius was proclaimed Emperor by the Praetorian Guard and thus as Claudius' wife, Messalina became Empress. January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 24 - Roman Emperor Gaius Caesar (Caligula), known for his eccentricity and cruel despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Messalina, among the ancient sources, has a very poor reputation. According to Suetonius and Tacitus^{[citation needed]}, Messalina was cruel, avaricious and foolish. Many women of her age and station enjoyed festivities and great parties, but the two historians contended that Messalina unwisely combined this zest for meeting people with an insatiable sexual appetite. A widely reported tale was of Messalina's challenge to a notorious Roman prostitute named Scylla of an all-night sex competition. Scylla gave up at dawn when each woman had taken 25 lovers, but Messalina saw no reason to stop copulating until well into the morning. It is said that she was exhausted, but not satisfied. This article is about the Roman historian. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ...

Juvenal also highly criticises her in his Satire VI: Satire VI of Juvenal is often titled Against Women in English translation. ...

Messalina certainly duped Claudius and manipulated him into executing those who displeased or spurned her. She is also recorded as a cheerful player of court politics who sold her influence to Roman nobles and foreign notables. Her name is used as a synonym for others with her supposed vices.

Death

In 48, Messalina conspired with Gaius Silius to kill Claudius while her husband was in Ostia. She actually went through a public marriage ceremony with Silius (he was already married to an aristocratic woman named Junia Silana). Apparently, she was motivated by the protection the powerful and popular Silius could give her over the weakness of Claudius. Events Rome Roman Emperor Claudius invests Agrippa II with the office of superintendent of the Temple in Jerusalem. ... Gaius Silius was the name of two consuls of the Roman Empire, during the 1st century. ... Ostia Antica was the harbor of ancient Rome and perhaps its first colonia. ...

Her plotting was sufficiently promising that many senior officials were swayed to her side. However, the plot was exposed by Narcissus, an advisor to Claudius. Messalina, Silius and a number of others were summarily executed. Messalina was apparently offered the opportunity of suicide but was unable to do it. Claudius was at dinner when he was informed of her death; his response was to ask for more wine. Tiberius Claudius Narcissus ( 1st century AD) was one of the freedmen who formed the core of the civil service under the Roman emperor Claudius. ... Summary execution of Viet Cong agent. ... Suicide (from Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the willful act of killing oneself. ...

As a wife, she succeeded Plautia Urgulanilla and Aelia Paetina. She was in turn replaced by Agrippina the Younger. Plautia Urgulanilla (fl. ... Aelia Paetina (flourished first century) was the second wife of the future emperor Claudius. ... Julia Agrippina (Classical Latin: IVLIA•AGRIPPINA; from the year 50, called IVLIA•AVGVSTA•AGRIPPINA[1]), most commonly known as Agrippina Minor or Agrippina the Younger (November 6, 15 – March 59), was the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina Major. ...

Messalina in fiction

Messalina was featured prominently in Robert Graves' novel I, Claudius and its sequel Claudius the God. In keeping with the historical views at the time the novels were written (1934), Messalina is portrayed as a young teenager at the time of her marriage. She is also credited with all the actions mentioned in the ancient sources. This character was played by Sheila White in the 1976 TV adaptation of the 2 books, and was to have been played by Merle Oberon in Josef von Sternberg's 1937 film of I, Claudius. I, Claudius is a novel by Robert Graves, (ISBN 067972477X) first published in 1934, dealing sympathetically with the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesars assassination in 44 BC to Caligulas assassination in 41 AD... I, Claudius is a novel by Robert Graves, (ISBN 067972477X) first published in 1934, dealing sympathetically with the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesars assassination in 44 BC to Caligulas assassination in 41 AD... Sheila White (born October 18, 1950) is an actress. ... Actress Merle Oberon in Berlin Express (1948) Merle Oberon (February 19, 1911 – November 23, 1979), born Estelle Merle OBrien Thompson, was a film actress, known for her sultry looks. ... Josef von Sternberg (29 May 1894 – 22 December 1969) was an Austrian-American film director. ...

Besides the adapatation of Graves' work, the character of Messalina has been portrayed many times elsewhere in movies and television films or miniseries. Here are some of the actresses who played Messalina:

• Maria Felix in the 1951 Italian movie Messalina.
• Susan Hayward in the 1954 Biblical Epic Demetrius and the Gladiators.
• Jennifer O'Neill in the 1985 TV series A.D. Anno Domini.
• Sonia Aquino in the 2004 TV movie Imperium: Nero.

The French writer Alfred Jarry also based his novel Messalina (or The Garden of Priapus in Louis Colman's English translation) on the myths surrounding our subject at hand. She is also referred to in his book Le Surmâle (in English the Supermale); these two books are offered as diametrically opposed entities in his 'pataphysical œuvre. The Messalina of these books are highly fictionalized and subject to Jarry's fanciful and extravagant imaginations. María Félix (April 8, 1914 – April 8, 2002) was a Mexican actress. ... Susan Hayward (June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Demetrius and the Gladiators was a 1954 drama film that was a sequel to The Robe. ... Jennifer ONeill Jennifer ONeill (born February 20, 1948) is an American actress and author. ... A.D. (Anno Domini) is a British/Italian miniseries from 1985 in 6 parts which tells the Acts of the Apostles. ... Sonia Aquino is an Italian actress, who has most notably appeared in the movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers as Sophia Loren. ...

In Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, the Forsaken Mesaana is named after Messalina. Robert Jordan is the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. ... The Squirrel of Time (abbreviated WoT or less commonly, tWoT) is a bestselling fantasy book series written by Robert Jordan. ... In the fictional world of Robert Jordans Wheel of Time fantasy series, the Forsaken (or Chosen, as they would prefer to be called) are thirteen of the most powerful servants of the Dark One. ... Mesaana is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. ...

Julia Vipsania Agrippina or Agrippina Minor (Latin for the younger) (November 6, 15/16-March, 59 AD), often called Agrippinilla to distinguish her from her mother, was the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina Major. ...

Notes

References

• E. Klebs, H. Dessau, P. Von Rohden (ed.), Prosopographia Imperii Romani, 3 vol., Berlin, 1897-1898. (PIR¹)
• Levick, Barbara, Claudius. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1990.
• Anthony A. Barrett, Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1996.

Sources

• Tacitus, Annals, XI. 1, 2, 12, 26-38
• Dio Cassius, Roman History, LX. 14-18, 27-31
• Juvenal, Satires 6, 10, 14
• Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Claudius 17, 26, 27, 29, 36, 37, 39; Nero 6; Vitellius 2
• Sextus Aurelius Victor epitome of Book of Caesars, 4
• Pliny the Elder, Natural History 10
• Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews XX. 8; The Wars of the Jews II. 12
• Seneca the Younger, Apocolocyntosis divi Claudii; Octavia, 257-261
• Plutarch, Lives

Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... The Annals, or, in Latin, Annales, is a history book by Tacitus covering the reign of the 4 Roman Emperors succeeding to Caesar Augustus. ... Dio Cassius Cocceianus (c. ... Frontispiece depicting Juvenal and Persius, from a volume translated by John Dryden in 1711. ... Satire VI of Juvenal is often titled Against Women in English translation. ... Frontispiece depicting Juvenal and Persius, from a volume translated by John Dryden in 1711. ... Frontispiece depicting Juvenal and Persius, from a volume translated by John Dryden in 1711. ... The Twelve Caesars is a set of twelve biographies of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire. ... Sextus Aurelius Victor, prefect of Pannonia about 360 ( xxi. ... Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19c portrait. ... A representation of Flavius Josephus, a woodcutting in John C. Winstons translation of his works Josephus (37 – shortly after 100 AD/CE)[1], who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Flavius Josephus[2], was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and royal... Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the year A.D. 93. ... The Wars of the Jews (or the history of the destruction of Jerusalem) is a book written by the historian Josephus as a description of Jewish history up to the events of the Destruction of Jerusalem. ... Bust, traditionally thought to be Seneca, now identified by some as Hesiod. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was an Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ...

External links

• Messalina, Agrippina and Closing Years from an article devoted to Claudius
• Messallina from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
• Messalina as an infamous woman.
• Messalina as a woman of influence.
• The Italian Almanac