Caecilia Attica
Encyclopedia
Pomponia Caecilia Attica or Caecilia Pomponia Attica (born 51 BC), was the daughter of Cicero's Epicurean friend and eques, knight Titus Pomponius Atticus
. Her mother, Caecilia Pilea/Pilia (bef ca 75 BC – 46 BC), daughter of Pileus/Pilius, was a maternal granddaughter of Marcus Licinius Crassus
, a member of the First Triumvirate
. Atticus
and Pilea/Pilia were married in 58 BC/56 BC, when Atticus was already 53/54 years old, and she died after 12 years of happy marriage. Caecilia's aunt, Pomponia, married Cicero's younger brother Quintus Tullius Cicero
around 70 BC. She also had an older brother named after his father, Titus Pomponius Atticus.
Caecilia Attica is several times mentioned in the letters between her father and Cicero. Cicero was very fond of this little girl, whom he would never see growing into an adult as he was murdered in 43 BC. He gave her the pet name Attica, the feminine equivalent to her father's cognomen Atticus. (In Rome women generally did not have cognomen
, their name was just the feminine form of their father's surname, as in Caecilia's case Caecilius). In his letters he sent always greetings to her, and often asked if she had one of her bouts of high fever that caused distress to him. In one letter to Atticus
in the beginning of the 40es BC Cicero tells him not to reprimand Attica, who was sulking and angry at Cicero. He said, that she was quite right in insisting that Cicero had not on his last visit said properly goodbye to her.
In history Caecilia Attica, is often called Pomponia Attica. This mix up rises from the fact that her father, Titus Pomponius Atticus was at a relatively advanced age adopted by his uncle, Quintus Caecilus. This meant, according to the Roman custom that his name, changed to Quintus Caecilius Pomponianus Atticus, and Pomponia Attica's name into Caecilia Attica.
Caecilia Attica was given a broad literary education. Her education started at the early age of five or six. Her father procured her a private tutor, one of his freedmen. (Having a private tutor and education at home was considered to be the proper way to educate women in Rome). There were gossip that she had had an affair with this tutor. However, Roman historians were very fond of scandals and used sources that modern historians would consider unreliable.
Around 37 BC, she married Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
, Octavian's right-hand man, and trusted friend. Octavian and Agrippa were childhood friends and had studied together in Apollonia, Illyria
(modern Albania
) before Gaius Julius Caesar
had adopted Octavian. This was socially a very fortunate marriage for Attica, as Augustus had secretly planned to make Agrippa his successor and heir. This was disclosed when Augustus, during a serious illness, handed over his seal ring to Agrippa. Agrippa died before Augustus in 12 BC.
The marriage was negotiated by Mark Antony
. Caecilia Attica's and Agrippa's daughter Vipsania Agrippina
was born in 36 BC. She was the mother-in-law of the emperor Tiberius
, Gaius Asinius Gallus
and grandmother to Julius Caesar Drusus
and his half-brothers.
In 28 BC Agrippa married for a second time Emperor Augustus
' niece Claudia Marcella
Major in a political alliance. It's unknown if Agrippa divorced Attica or if she had already died.
Titus Pomponius Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus, born Titus Pomponius , came from an old but not strictly noble Roman family of the equestrian class and the Gens Pomponia. He was a celebrated editor, banker, and patron of letters with residences in both Rome and Athens...
. Her mother, Caecilia Pilea/Pilia (bef ca 75 BC – 46 BC), daughter of Pileus/Pilius, was a maternal granddaughter of Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who commanded the right wing of Sulla's army at the Battle of the Colline Gate, suppressed the slave revolt led by Spartacus, provided political and financial support to Julius Caesar and entered into the political alliance known as the...
, a member of the First Triumvirate
First Triumvirate
The First Triumvirate was the political alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Unlike the Second Triumvirate, the First Triumvirate had no official status whatsoever; its overwhelming power in the Roman Republic was strictly unofficial influence, and...
. Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus, born Titus Pomponius , came from an old but not strictly noble Roman family of the equestrian class and the Gens Pomponia. He was a celebrated editor, banker, and patron of letters with residences in both Rome and Athens...
and Pilea/Pilia were married in 58 BC/56 BC, when Atticus was already 53/54 years old, and she died after 12 years of happy marriage. Caecilia's aunt, Pomponia, married Cicero's younger brother Quintus Tullius Cicero
Quintus Tullius Cicero
Quintus Tullius Cicero was the younger brother of the celebrated orator, philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero. He was born into a family of the equestrian order, as the son of a wealthy landowner in Arpinum, some 100 kilometres south-east of Rome.- Biography :Cicero's well-to-do father...
around 70 BC. She also had an older brother named after his father, Titus Pomponius Atticus.
Caecilia Attica is several times mentioned in the letters between her father and Cicero. Cicero was very fond of this little girl, whom he would never see growing into an adult as he was murdered in 43 BC. He gave her the pet name Attica, the feminine equivalent to her father's cognomen Atticus. (In Rome women generally did not have cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
, their name was just the feminine form of their father's surname, as in Caecilia's case Caecilius). In his letters he sent always greetings to her, and often asked if she had one of her bouts of high fever that caused distress to him. In one letter to Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus, born Titus Pomponius , came from an old but not strictly noble Roman family of the equestrian class and the Gens Pomponia. He was a celebrated editor, banker, and patron of letters with residences in both Rome and Athens...
in the beginning of the 40es BC Cicero tells him not to reprimand Attica, who was sulking and angry at Cicero. He said, that she was quite right in insisting that Cicero had not on his last visit said properly goodbye to her.
In history Caecilia Attica, is often called Pomponia Attica. This mix up rises from the fact that her father, Titus Pomponius Atticus was at a relatively advanced age adopted by his uncle, Quintus Caecilus. This meant, according to the Roman custom that his name, changed to Quintus Caecilius Pomponianus Atticus, and Pomponia Attica's name into Caecilia Attica.
Caecilia Attica was given a broad literary education. Her education started at the early age of five or six. Her father procured her a private tutor, one of his freedmen. (Having a private tutor and education at home was considered to be the proper way to educate women in Rome). There were gossip that she had had an affair with this tutor. However, Roman historians were very fond of scandals and used sources that modern historians would consider unreliable.
Around 37 BC, she married Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a Roman statesman and general. He was a close friend, son-in-law, lieutenant and defense minister to Octavian, the future Emperor Caesar Augustus...
, Octavian's right-hand man, and trusted friend. Octavian and Agrippa were childhood friends and had studied together in Apollonia, Illyria
Apollonia, Illyria
Apollonia was an ancient Greek city in Illyria, located on the right bank of the Aous river . Its ruins are situated in the Fier region, near the village of Pojani, in modern-day Albania...
(modern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
) before Gaius Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
had adopted Octavian. This was socially a very fortunate marriage for Attica, as Augustus had secretly planned to make Agrippa his successor and heir. This was disclosed when Augustus, during a serious illness, handed over his seal ring to Agrippa. Agrippa died before Augustus in 12 BC.
The marriage was negotiated by Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
. Caecilia Attica's and Agrippa's daughter Vipsania Agrippina
Vipsania Agrippina
Not to be confused with Agrippina the Elder, Agrippa's daughter by Julia the Elder.Vipsania Agrippina was the daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa from his first wife Pomponia Caecilia Attica, granddaughter of Cicero's friend and knight Titus Pomponius Atticus. Her maternal grandmother was a...
was born in 36 BC. She was the mother-in-law of the emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
, Gaius Asinius Gallus
Gaius Asinius Gallus
Gaius Asinius Gallus Saloninus was an ambitious Roman Senator with family connections to the Julio-Claudian house. Asinius Gallus was consul in 8 BC, and proconsul of Asia in 6 BC/5 BC. He was a friend of Emperor Augustus and opposed Emperor Tiberius. He introduced measures to the senate to...
and grandmother to Julius Caesar Drusus
Julius Caesar Drusus
Nero Claudius Drusus, later Drusus Julius Caesar was the only child of Roman Emperor Tiberius and his first wife, Vipsania Agrippina...
and his half-brothers.
In 28 BC Agrippa married for a second time Emperor Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
' niece Claudia Marcella
Claudia Marcella
Claudia Marcella was the name of the two daughters of Octavia Minor, the sister of Emperor Augustus, by her first husband, the consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor. According to Suetonius, they were known as The Marcellae sisters. The sisters were born in Rome...
Major in a political alliance. It's unknown if Agrippa divorced Attica or if she had already died.