Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus
Encyclopedia
Marcus Valerius
Messalla Barbatus (11 BC - AD 20/21) 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
.
He was son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus
and Claudia Marcella Minor. His father served twice as consul. His paternal grandfather was the famous orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
. His maternal grandparents were consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor
and Octavia Minor
, sister of Augustus
.
Messala Barbatus married his half first-cousin Domitia Lepida
Minor. Their marriage resulted in a son Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus who became consul in 58 and the future empress Valeria Messalina (20-48).
Messala Barbatus was consul in 20. Some modern historians believe he died in 20 or early 21. His only known siblings were his elder half-sister Claudia Pulchra
who married the Roman general and politician Publius Quinctilius Varus
and his full sister Valeria, born ca 10 BC who married Lucius Vipstanus Gallus
(ca 15 BC - 17), Praetor
in 17, and had issue.
Valerius
Valerius is the nomen of gens Valeria, one of the oldest patrician families of Rome. The name was in use throughout Roman history...
Messalla Barbatus (11 BC - AD 20/21) was a consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
of ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. He was the father of the Roman Empress Valeria Messalina, great-nephew of 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...
, and father-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...
.
He was son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus was the son of the Roman famous orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, whom he resembled in character, and wife Calpurnia.He was a senator and consul in 3 BC and AD 3...
and Claudia Marcella Minor. His father served twice as consul. His paternal grandfather was the famous orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus was a Roman general, author and patron of literature and art.-Family:He was the son of politician Marcus Valerius Messalla Niger Although, some dispute his parentage and claim another descendant of Marcus Valerius Corvus to be his father.Messalla Corvinus is...
. His maternal grandparents were consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor
Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor
:See Gaius Claudius Marcellus for other men of this name, or Gaius Claudius Marcellus Maior for his cousin, consul of 49 BC.Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor was a Roman senator and consul. He was a member of the distinguished Claudius family...
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...
, sister of 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...
.
Messala Barbatus married his half first-cousin Domitia Lepida
Domitia Lepida
Domitia Lepida, also known as Domitia Lepida the Younger, Domitia Lepida Minor, or simply Lepida ; was the younger daughter of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Antonia Major. Her elder siblings were Domitia and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, father of the emperor Nero...
Minor. Their marriage resulted in a son Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus who became consul in 58 and the future empress Valeria Messalina (20-48).
Messala Barbatus was consul in 20. Some modern historians believe he died in 20 or early 21. His only known siblings were his elder half-sister Claudia Pulchra
Claudia Pulchra
Claudia Pulchra was the name of several women of Roman gens of Claudii during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The Latin pulchra is the root of the English word pulchritude .-Wife of Tiberius Gracchus:...
who married the Roman general and politician Publius Quinctilius Varus
Publius Quinctilius Varus
Publius Quinctilius Varus was a Roman politician and general under Emperor Augustus, mainly remembered for having lost three Roman legions and his own life when attacked by Germanic leader Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.-Life:His paternal grandfather was senator Sextus Quinctilius...
and his full sister Valeria, born ca 10 BC who married Lucius Vipstanus Gallus
Lucius Vipstanus Gallus
Lucius Vipstanus Gallus was a Praetor in 17, the year of his death.He married Valeria, born c. 10 BC, daughter of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus and wife Claudia Marcella Minor and sister of Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus, and had two sons, Lucius Vipstanus Poplicola and Gaius Vipstanus...
(ca 15 BC - 17), Praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
in 17, and had issue.
External links
- A possible statue of Messalla Barbatus can be seen at http://www.indiana.edu/~c414rome/net_id/romesculp/sculpture/julioclaud/julio1.gif.
