Domitia Lepida
Encyclopedia
Domitia Lepida, also known as Domitia Lepida the Younger, Domitia Lepida Minor, or simply Lepida (c. 10 BC-54); was the younger daughter of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Antonia Major
. Her elder siblings were Domitia
(with whom she is sometimes confused) and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, father of the emperor Nero
. She was the great niece of Emperor Augustus
, granddaughter of Octavia Minor
and Mark Antony
, second cousin to the Emperor Caligula
, first cousin and mother-in-law to the Emperor Claudius
, and paternal aunt of the Emperor Nero
. Lepida was a beautiful and influential figure. Like her sister, she was also very wealthy. She had holdings in Calabria
and owned the praedia Lepidiana.
Lepida was married three times. Her first husband was her cousin, the consul Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus
. Lepida married Barbatus probably around 15. They had a son, Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus and a daughter, Valeria Messalina (c. 17
/20
-48
), who became Empress and third wife to the Emperor Claudius
. Barbatus most likely died around AD 20 or AD 21, shortly after Messalina was born. Lepida's second husband was Faustus Cornelius Sulla
, consul suffectus in 31, a descendant of the dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
. Their son, Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix
was born in 22 and married Claudia Antonia
, the daughter of Claudius through his second marriage to Aelia Paetina
. Faustus Cornelius Sulla died in AD 62.
At the beginning of the reign of her son-in-law, Claudius, Lepida was given in marriage to Appius Junius Silanus, consul in AD 28. In the following year, AD 42, Silanus was put to death by Claudius, apparently because he had resisted the advances of Messalina, who subsequently accused him of plotting to assassinate Claudius.
Lepida was the maternal grandmother to Messalina's children Claudia Octavia
(stepsister and first wife of the Emperor Nero
) and Britannicus
. In 48, Messalina, was executed on the orders of Claudius due to Messalina's mock marriage with her lover Gaius Silius
which later became a foiled political coup d'etat
. During the most part of Messalina's influence and prosperity at the imperial court, Lepida had argued with Messalina and they had become estranged (this might have followed Appius Silanus' murder). In Messalina's last hour in the Gardens of Lucullus, Lepida was at her side and encouraged her to end her own life. After Messalina was stabbed with a dagger by an officer, her body was given up to Lepida.
Lepida's former sister-in-law, Agrippina the Younger
, became Claudius' new wife in 49. Out of jealousy, Agrippina arranged the execution of Lepida sometime before the poisoning of Claudius, after which Nero became the new emperor. Agrippina charged Lepida with attempting her life by magic, disturbing Italian peace and failing to control her Calabrian slave-gangs. Agrippina thought that Lepida would use her 'kind' influence on Nero, to turn him against his mother.
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...
. Her elder siblings were Domitia
Domitia (aunt of Nero)
Domitia , more commonly referred to as Domitia Lepida the Elder was the oldest child of Antonia Major and Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus , 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...
(with whom she is sometimes confused) and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, father of the 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 was the great niece of 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...
, granddaughter of 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...
and 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...
, second cousin 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 and mother-in-law 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...
, and paternal aunt of the 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....
. Lepida was a beautiful and influential figure. Like her sister, she was also very wealthy. She had holdings in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
and owned the praedia Lepidiana.
Lepida was married three times. Her first husband was her cousin, the consul Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus was a consul of ancient Rome. He was the father of the Roman Empress Valeria Messalina, great-nephew of the Emperor Augustus, and father-in-law to the Emperor Claudius....
. Lepida married Barbatus probably around 15. They had a son, Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus and a daughter, Valeria Messalina (c. 17
17
Year 17 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Flaccus and Rufus...
/20
20
Year 20 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messala and Cotta...
-48
48
Year 48 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Vitellius and Poplicola...
), who became Empress and third wife 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...
. Barbatus most likely died around AD 20 or AD 21, shortly after Messalina was born. Lepida's second husband was Faustus Cornelius Sulla
Faustus Cornelius Sulla Lucullus III
Faustus Cornelius Sulla Lucullus III was a Roman nobleman, the son of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Faustus. He was a great-grandchild of the Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla. His mother was Aemilia Lepida. Faustus and his brother Lucius Cornelius Sulla Magnus were senators who lived in Emperor...
, consul suffectus in 31, a descendant of the dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
. Their son, Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix
Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix
Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix was one of the lesser known figures of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of ancient Rome. His grandmother was Antonia Major, the niece of Emperor Augustus by her husband Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus . His mother was Domitia Lepida, a great niece of Emperor Augustus and...
was born in 22 and married Claudia Antonia
Claudia Antonia
Claudia Antonia was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Claudius and his second wife Aelia Paetina...
, the daughter of Claudius through his second marriage to Aelia Paetina
Aelia Paetina
Aelia Paetina or Paetina was the second wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Her biological father was consul of 4, Sextus Aelius Catus while her mother is unknown. She was born into the family of the Aelii Tuberones, and thus apparently descended from the consul of 11 BC...
. Faustus Cornelius Sulla died in AD 62.
At the beginning of the reign of her son-in-law, Claudius, Lepida was given in marriage to Appius Junius Silanus, consul in AD 28. In the following year, AD 42, Silanus was put to death by Claudius, apparently because he had resisted the advances of Messalina, who subsequently accused him of plotting to assassinate Claudius.
Lepida was the maternal grandmother to Messalina's children Claudia Octavia
Claudia Octavia
Claudia Octavia was an Empress of Rome. She was a great-niece of the Emperor Tiberius, paternal first cousin of the Emperor Caligula, daughter of the Emperor Claudius, and stepsister and first wife of the Emperor Nero...
(stepsister and first wife of the 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....
) and Britannicus
Britannicus
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus was the son of the Roman emperor Claudius and his third wife Valeria Messalina. He became the heir-designate of the empire at his birth, less than a month into his father's reign. He was still a young boy at the time of his mother's downfall and Claudius'...
. In 48, Messalina, was executed on the orders of Claudius due to Messalina's mock marriage with her lover Gaius Silius
Gaius Silius
Gaius Silius was the name of two consuls of the Roman Empire, during the 1st century. The elder was a consul and commander in the Roman Army during the reign of Emperors Augustus and Tiberius and the younger a consul in the reign of Emperor Claudius....
which later became a foiled political coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. During the most part of Messalina's influence and prosperity at the imperial court, Lepida had argued with Messalina and they had become estranged (this might have followed Appius Silanus' murder). In Messalina's last hour in the Gardens of Lucullus, Lepida was at her side and encouraged her to end her own life. After Messalina was stabbed with a dagger by an officer, her body was given up to Lepida.
Lepida'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...
, became Claudius' new wife in 49. Out of jealousy, Agrippina arranged the execution of Lepida sometime before the poisoning of Claudius, after which Nero became the new emperor. Agrippina charged Lepida with attempting her life by magic, disturbing Italian peace and failing to control her Calabrian slave-gangs. Agrippina thought that Lepida would use her 'kind' influence on Nero, to turn him against his mother.