Urgulania
Encyclopedia
Urgulania was a prominent noblewoman during the reigns of Augustus
and Tiberius
, and a friend of the empress Livia
. She was the mother of Marcus Plautius Silvanus
(consul in 2 BC), who had distinguished himself with Tiberius in the Balkans. She was the grandmother to Plautia Urgulanilla
, the first wife of the emperor
Claudius
, and another Plautius Silvanus, the suspect in a famous murder case.
Due to her closeness with Livia, Tacitus
asserts that she held herself above the law. He relates the tale of a man named Lucius Piso
who sued Urgulania in the courts. She refused her summons, and instead traveled to the palace where she had Livia issue a statement against Piso's actions. Livia called Tiberius and guard to come and stay with them, which forced Piso to go to them instead of the court. Livia paid a settlement and the matter was closed. Tacitus also states that at a trial where she was called as a witness, Urgulania demanded that the praetor take her deposition in her own home. Even Vestals did not have this privilege.
In 24 AD, Urgulania's star fell as a result of two blows to her family's reputation. Her grandson Silvanus' new wife, Apronia, was found dead in their home, apparently pushed from a great height. Tiberius himself came to investigate the crime scene, and Silvanus was implicated, and tried to claim that his ex-wife had cursed him. Before the trial could begin, Urgulania (perhaps at Livia's behest) sent her grandson a dagger. He used it on himself, saving himself (and her) the disgrace of being convicted of murder.
A praetor
was sent to the home of Urgulania to examine her. This was unprecedented, as even the vestal virgins
were required to attend the Roman Forum
and courts of justice.
Claudius divorced her granddaughter Urgulanilla due to a possible role in the murder. Urgulanilla was also put away for adultery, and gave birth to an illegitimate daughter shortly after the divorce. Urgulania's marriage connection with the imperial family was severed.
Understandably, Urgulania is not written of again after these events.
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 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...
, and a friend of the empress Livia
Livia
Livia Drusilla, , after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14 also known as Julia Augusta, was a Roman empress as the third wife of the Emperor Augustus and his adviser...
. She was the mother of Marcus Plautius Silvanus
Marcus Plautius Silvanus
Marcus Plautius Silvanus was a Roman politician and general who was consul in 2 BC.-Biography:Silvanus was the son of Urgulania, a close friend of the empress Livia, and it was Livia's intercession that allowed Silvanus to climb the cursus honorum, leading to the consulate in 2 BC alongside Augustus...
(consul in 2 BC), who had distinguished himself with Tiberius in the Balkans. She was the grandmother to Plautia Urgulanilla
Plautia Urgulanilla
Plautia Urgulanilla was the first wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius. They married sometime around the year 9 CE, when Claudius was 18 years old. According to Suetonius, Claudius divorced her in 24 on grounds of adultery by Plautia and his suspicions of her involvement in the murder of her...
, the first wife of the emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
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 another Plautius Silvanus, the suspect in a famous murder case.
Due to her closeness with Livia, Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
asserts that she held herself above the law. He relates the tale of a man named Lucius Piso
Lucius Piso
Lucius Calpurnius Piso was a Roman statesman of the 1st century. He was the grandson and son of men who had made huge fortunes from selling armaments which were used by the Roman legions. Piso was a close relative of Julius Caesar. His mother and Caesar's mother, Aurelia Cotta, were Rutilias of the...
who sued Urgulania in the courts. She refused her summons, and instead traveled to the palace where she had Livia issue a statement against Piso's actions. Livia called Tiberius and guard to come and stay with them, which forced Piso to go to them instead of the court. Livia paid a settlement and the matter was closed. Tacitus also states that at a trial where she was called as a witness, Urgulania demanded that the praetor take her deposition in her own home. Even Vestals did not have this privilege.
In 24 AD, Urgulania's star fell as a result of two blows to her family's reputation. Her grandson Silvanus' new wife, Apronia, was found dead in their home, apparently pushed from a great height. Tiberius himself came to investigate the crime scene, and Silvanus was implicated, and tried to claim that his ex-wife had cursed him. Before the trial could begin, Urgulania (perhaps at Livia's behest) sent her grandson a dagger. He used it on himself, saving himself (and her) the disgrace of being convicted of murder.
A 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...
was sent to the home of Urgulania to examine her. This was unprecedented, as even the vestal virgins
were required to attend the Roman Forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
and courts of justice.
Claudius divorced her granddaughter Urgulanilla due to a possible role in the murder. Urgulanilla was also put away for adultery, and gave birth to an illegitimate daughter shortly after the divorce. Urgulania's marriage connection with the imperial family was severed.
Understandably, Urgulania is not written of again after these events.