Livia Drusilla was connected to two of the most powerful families in Rome on her father’s side she was a member of the gens Livii, and through her first marriage she was a member of the gens Claudii. Livia was born in Rome on January 30th 59 BC to Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus and Aufidia, who was a daughter of magistrate Marcus Aufidius Lurco.
Marriage to Tiberius Claudius Nero
The young Livia was married to Tiberius Claudius Nero, he was of the gens Claudii and his family were of patrician status, the couple were cousins, and he was a political ally of Livia’s father, and both supported the assassins of Julius Caesar and were at the time fighting against Octavian.
Octavian and Mark Antony faced the army of Caesar’s assassins at Philippi in Macedonia in October 42, Livia’s father was also involved in the battle, and after Octavian and Mark Antony’s victory, the assassins Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus committed suicide, as did Livia’s father, consequently her family fled to Greece for safety.
After reconciliation her family returned to Rome where she was introduced to Octavian, who was already married to Scribonia, at the time of their first meeting Livia had a three year old son, Tiberius Claudius Caesar the future Emperor Tiberius, and she was pregnant with her second child, they fell in love at first sight, and Octavian divorced his wife on the very day that she gave birth to his daughter, Julia the Elder. Tiberius Claudius Nero was probably forced to divorce Livia, and agreed, she gave birth to their son Nero Claudius Drusus and her now ex-husband gave her away at her wedding to Octavian a week later in 38 BC.
Augustus and Augusta
Upon the death of Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC, Octavian became master of the world and ruled as Emperor of Rome, and he and his wife received the titles Augustus and Augusta. During their married life she would influence his politics and advised him on matters which was not the custom in ancient Rome where society was dominated by the man of the house, known as the paterfamilias, for a woman to involve herself in politics was not at all customary, but nevertheless they lived happily.
An Ambitious Mother
Augustus and Livia had no children together, although she did suffer one miscarriage, she was an ambitious mother and wanted power for her sons who were already involved in politics, her younger son Drusus was married to Antonia the Younger, daughter of Augustus’ sister Octavia by Mark Antony. Augustus’ daughter Julia the Elder was already married to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, but on Agrippa’s death in 12 BC, Livia had Tiberius divorced and married to Julia a year later, and he was adopted by Augustus as his son and heir.
The couple became the model for all Roman families, despite their wealth and power they chose to live a modest life at their home on the Palatine Hill, Livia did not wear expensive clothing and jewellery and Augustus allowed her to maintain her own finances and the running of the household, and she became the role model for every woman in Rome, despite many rumours by political opponents, Livia was faithful, virtuous and did not meddle in her husband’s affairs, she simply advised and was very supportive of his policies.
Julia Augusta
When Augustus died in 14 AD after over fifty years of marriage he left one third of his estate to Livia in his will and the remainder to Tiberius, adopting him as his son and heir and adopting Livia into the Julian family with the honorary title of Augusta, she became known as Julia Augusta, receiving the title Mater Patriae by the Senate, meaning ‘Mother of the Fatherland’, and she was able to maintain all powers that she had during her married life with Augustus.
Livia’s Final Years and Deification
She fell ill and died at a grand old age in 29 AD at Capri, an island which was long used as a retreat for the family, and her seventeen year old great-grandson the future Emperor Caligula delivered the funerary oration in her honour. Over the next thirteen years she was deified and renamed Diva Augusta, meaning ‘The Divine Augusta’, a statue of her was erected in the Temple of Augustus, races and games were held in her honour, and even her name became sacred.
See Also:
Sources:
- The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius, Penguin Books, 2001
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