Livia Orestilla
Encyclopedia
Livia Orestilla, or Cornelia Orestilla was a Roman Empress as the second wife of the Emperor
Caligula
in AD 37 or 38. She was originally married to Gaius Calpurnius Piso
(in particular the one involved in a conspiracy overthrow the Emperor Nero in AD 65
), who was persuaded or forced to annul the marriage so that Caligula could marry her. According to both Dio and Suetonius
, this occurred during the wedding celebrations. Suetonius claims that Caligula issued a proclamation the next day that he had acquired a new wife in the tradition of Romulus
and Augustus
, who had both stolen wives from other men. Days later he divorced her and two years later banished her on suspicion of returning to her other husband.
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...
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...
in AD 37 or 38. She was originally married to Gaius Calpurnius Piso
Gaius Calpurnius Piso
Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso was a Roman senator in the 1st century. He was the focal figure in the Pisonian Conspiracy of 65 AD, the most famous and wide-ranging plot against the throne of Emperor Nero.-Character and early life:...
(in particular the one involved in a conspiracy overthrow the Emperor Nero in AD 65
Pisonian conspiracy
The conspiracy of Gaius Calpurnius Piso in AD 65 represented one of the major turning points in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero...
), who was persuaded or forced to annul the marriage so that Caligula could marry her. According to both Dio and Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
, this occurred during the wedding celebrations. Suetonius claims that Caligula issued a proclamation the next day that he had acquired a new wife in the tradition of Romulus
Romulus
- People:* Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome* Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor* Valerius Romulus , deified son of the Roman emperor Maxentius* Romulus , son of the Western Roman emperor Anthemius...
and 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...
, who had both stolen wives from other men. Days later he divorced her and two years later banished her on suspicion of returning to her other husband.