Domitia (aunt of Nero)
Encyclopedia
Domitia more commonly referred to as Domitia Lepida the Elder (c. 19 BC-June 59) was the oldest child of Antonia Major
and Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 16 BC), and the oldest granddaughter to Triumvir Mark Antony
and Octavia Minor
, a great-niece of the Roman Emperor
Augustus
, second cousin and sister-in-law to the Emperor Caligula
, first cousin to the Emperor Claudius
, maternal aunt to the Empress Valeria Messalina, and paternal aunt to Emperor Nero
.
She married the consul Decimus Haterius Agrippa
, who died in 32 as a victim of Tiberius
' reign of terror. Domitia bore Agrippa a son, Quintus Haterius Antoninus
who became consul in 53. In 33 Domitia married the witty, wealthy, and influential Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus
. Crispus was the adopted grandson and biological great-great nephew of the historian Sallust
.
After January 41, the new Emperor Claudius
asked Domitia and Crispus to divorce, so Crispus could marry Domitia's former sister-in-law Agrippina the Younger
, who recently returned from exile and had her son Lucius Domitius (Nero
) to care for. Crispus thus became Nero's stepfather.
In the reigns of Caligula
, Claudius
and Nero
, Domitia was an influential rival to Agrippina. In June 59 her nephew Nero poisoned her. She was confined to a bed with severe constipation. Nero visited his aunt while she was sick and she commented that when he shaved his beard (a Roman symbolic act, usually performed during a ceremony at the age of twenty-one), she would gladly die peacefully. Nero turned to those with him and joked, "I'll take it off at once." He then ordered the doctors to overdose his aunt with a fatal strength of laxative
and seized her property while she was dying.
On the Ara Pacis
(an altar from the Augustan Era), displays Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Domitia. The woman behind Domitia and Domitius is their mother Antonia Major
and the man next to Antonia Major is her husband Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. This can be seen at http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/gallery/arch/ara_pacis.htm.
Antonia Major
Antonia Major , also known as Antonia the Elder, was a daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor and a relative of the first Roman Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
and Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 16 BC), and the oldest granddaughter to Triumvir 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...
and Octavia Minor
Octavia Minor
Octavia the Younger , also known as Octavia Minor or simply Octavia, was the sister of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus , half-sister of Octavia the Elder, and fourth wife of Mark Antony...
, a great-niece of the Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the 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...
, second cousin and sister-in-law to the Emperor Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, first cousin to the Emperor Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
, maternal aunt to the Empress Valeria Messalina, and paternal aunt to Emperor Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
.
She married the consul Decimus Haterius Agrippa
Decimus Haterius Agrippa
Decimus or Didius Haterius Agrippa was the son of the orator and senator Quintus Haterius. He was tribune of the plebs in 15 and vetoed proposals; was praetor in 17, consul in 22, and later senator. Agrippa at one time strongly urged the emperor Tiberius to nominate a limited amount of political...
, who died in 32 as a victim of 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...
' reign of terror. Domitia bore Agrippa a son, Quintus Haterius Antoninus
Quintus Haterius Antoninus
Quintus Haterius Antoninus or known as Antoninus was a Roman who lived in the 1st century. He was the only child to Domitia Lepida the Elder and consul Decimus Haterius Agrippa....
who became consul in 53. In 33 Domitia married the witty, wealthy, and influential Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus
Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus
Gaius Sallustius Passienus Crispus was a prominent figure in the Roman Empire during the 1st century. He was the adopted grandson and biological great, great nephew of the historian Sallust....
. Crispus was the adopted grandson and biological great-great nephew of the historian Sallust
Sallust
Gaius Sallustius Crispus, generally known simply as Sallust , a Roman historian, belonged to a well-known plebeian family, and was born at Amiternum in the country of the Sabines...
.
After January 41, the new Emperor Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
asked Domitia and Crispus to divorce, so Crispus could marry Domitia's former sister-in-law Agrippina the Younger
Agrippina the Younger
Julia Agrippina, most commonly referred to as Agrippina Minor or Agrippina the Younger, and after 50 known as Julia Augusta Agrippina was a Roman Empress and one of the more prominent women in the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
, who recently returned from exile and had her son Lucius Domitius (Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
) to care for. Crispus thus became Nero's stepfather.
In the reigns of Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
and Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
, Domitia was an influential rival to Agrippina. In June 59 her nephew Nero poisoned her. She was confined to a bed with severe constipation. Nero visited his aunt while she was sick and she commented that when he shaved his beard (a Roman symbolic act, usually performed during a ceremony at the age of twenty-one), she would gladly die peacefully. Nero turned to those with him and joked, "I'll take it off at once." He then ordered the doctors to overdose his aunt with a fatal strength of laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
and seized her property while she was dying.
On the Ara Pacis
Ara Pacis
The Ara Pacis Augustae is an altar to Peace, envisioned as a Roman goddess...
(an altar from the Augustan Era), displays Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Domitia. The woman behind Domitia and Domitius is their mother Antonia Major
Antonia Major
Antonia Major , also known as Antonia the Elder, was a daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor and a relative of the first Roman Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
and the man next to Antonia Major is her husband Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. This can be seen at http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/gallery/arch/ara_pacis.htm.