Claudius and his Four Wives - Revision history

Paulreed at 17:40, 25 September 2019

2019-09-25T17:40:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 25 September 2019
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	==Messalina==		==Messalina==
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	[[roman::Valeria Messalina]] (c. 17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor [[roman::Claudius]]. Messalina was child of [[roman::Domitia Lepida the Younger]] and [[roman::Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus]]. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Nero]], second cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Caligula]], and great-grandniece of the Emperor [[roman::Augustus]]. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.		[[roman::Valeria Messalina]] (c. 17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor [[roman::Claudius]]. Messalina was child of [[roman::Domitia Lepida the Younger]] and [[roman::Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus]]. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Nero]], second cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Caligula]], and great-grandniece of the Emperor [[roman::Augustus]]. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.

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	File:messalinaE.jpg\|Bernardelli Henrique "Messalina"		File:messalinaE.jpg\|Bernardelli Henrique "Messalina"
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	==Agrippina==		==Agrippina==
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Paulreed: /* Messalina */

2019-09-25T15:55:21Z

Messalina

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:55, 25 September 2019
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	==Messalina==		==Messalina==
	[[roman::Valeria Messalina]] (c. 17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor [[roman::Claudius]]. Messalina was child of ]]roman::Domitia Lepida the Younger]] and [[roman::Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus]]. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Nero]], second cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Caligula]], and great-grandniece of the Emperor [[roman::Augustus]]. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.		[[roman::Valeria Messalina]] (c. 17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor [[roman::Claudius]]. Messalina was child of [[roman::Domitia Lepida the Younger]] and [[roman::Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus]]. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Nero]], second cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Caligula]], and great-grandniece of the Emperor [[roman::Augustus]]. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.

Paulreed: /* Was Messalina a Victim of Seneca's Revenge? */

2018-01-28T16:27:44Z

Was Messalina a Victim of Seneca's Revenge?

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:27, 28 January 2018
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	It is said that Claudius, who is considered a benign emperor, bookended by two monsters, nevertheless executed thirty five senators and three hundred Romans, mostly during his marriage to Messalina. What are we to make of Messalina's stories? It is too easy to dismiss these accounts as rantings of misogynistic men who have their nose put out by a powerful women who eventually overplayed her hand. It was not unknown that Roman women in imperial circles were not always faithful wives, the brothel story is almost surely an invention but her life as an over sexed adulterer married to older, doddery old man seems plausible. Even in recent times we are reminded of Princess Diana and her numerous affairs as evidence that these things can happen. Who knows what future historians will make of Diana's antics. Just because some of the more lurid tales are an exaggeration the charges against Messalina do seem to have more than a grain of truth. It is also possible that there was an element of subterfuge by Claudius and his inner circle. How easy would it have been to get rid of enemies and and blame it on ''the wife'' <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, 1996<ref>		It is said that Claudius, who is considered a benign emperor, bookended by two monsters, nevertheless executed thirty five senators and three hundred Romans, mostly during his marriage to Messalina. What are we to make of Messalina's stories? It is too easy to dismiss these accounts as rantings of misogynistic men who have their nose put out by a powerful women who eventually overplayed her hand. It was not unknown that Roman women in imperial circles were not always faithful wives, the brothel story is almost surely an invention but her life as an over sexed adulterer married to older, doddery old man seems plausible. Even in recent times we are reminded of Princess Diana and her numerous affairs as evidence that these things can happen. Who knows what future historians will make of Diana's antics. Just because some of the more lurid tales are an exaggeration the charges against Messalina do seem to have more than a grain of truth. It is also possible that there was an element of subterfuge by Claudius and his inner circle. How easy would it have been to get rid of enemies and and blame it on ''the wife'' <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, 1996</ref>

	<gallery>		<gallery>

Paulreed: /* Was Messalina a Victim of Seneca's Revenge? */

2018-01-28T16:26:34Z

Was Messalina a Victim of Seneca's Revenge?

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:26, 28 January 2018
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	It is said that Claudius, who is considered a benign emperor, bookended by two monsters, nevertheless executed thirty five senators and three hundred Romans, mostly during his marriage to Messalina. What are we to make of Messalina's stories? It is too easy to dismiss these accounts as rantings of misogynistic men who have their nose put out by a powerful women who eventually overplayed her hand. It was not unknown that Roman women in imperial circles were not always faithful wives, the brothel story is almost surely an invention but her life as an over sexed adulterer married to older, doddery old man seems plausible. Even in recent times we are reminded of Princess Diana and her numerous affairs as evidence that these things can happen. Who knows what future historians will make of Diana's antics. Just because some of the more lurid tales are an exaggeration the charges against Messalina do seem to have more than a grain of truth. It is also possible that there was an element of subterfuge by Claudius and his inner circle. How easy would it have been to get rid of enemies and and blame it on ''the wife'' <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, 1996<~~ref> </ref>Juvenal Satire VI 114-135</~~ref>		It is said that Claudius, who is considered a benign emperor, bookended by two monsters, nevertheless executed thirty five senators and three hundred Romans, mostly during his marriage to Messalina. What are we to make of Messalina's stories? It is too easy to dismiss these accounts as rantings of misogynistic men who have their nose put out by a powerful women who eventually overplayed her hand. It was not unknown that Roman women in imperial circles were not always faithful wives, the brothel story is almost surely an invention but her life as an over sexed adulterer married to older, doddery old man seems plausible. Even in recent times we are reminded of Princess Diana and her numerous affairs as evidence that these things can happen. Who knows what future historians will make of Diana's antics. Just because some of the more lurid tales are an exaggeration the charges against Messalina do seem to have more than a grain of truth. It is also possible that there was an element of subterfuge by Claudius and his inner circle. How easy would it have been to get rid of enemies and and blame it on ''the wife'' <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, 1996<ref>

	<gallery>		<gallery>

Paulreed: /* Messalina */

2018-01-28T16:25:22Z

Messalina

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	She slipped in the role of empress effortlessly, starting with the re-exile of [[roman::Julia Livilla]]. She later had her executed. Agrippina sensing the same fate made her self scarce ''PDQ''		She slipped in the role of empress effortlessly, starting with the re-exile of [[roman::Julia Livilla]]. She later had her executed. Agrippina sensing the same fate made her self scarce ''PDQ''

	While Claudius was away in Britain, rumor had it that Messalina challenged Rome’s top prostitute to see who could sleep with the most men in one night. Needless to say Messalina came out on top with a total of 25 lovers. Roman historians also claim that Messalina used sex as a weapon to control politicians, and that she had a brothel under an assumed name, where she forced upper class women to work as prostitutes, and then blackmailed them. Then there was her affair with the dancer [[roman::Mnester}}, who came from peasant stock, but who had worked hard . Messalina was his biggest devotee, she had statues erected, and hired poets to write odes to his hotness. But Mnester spurned her advances because he feared what would happen if Claudius found out. But Messalina had a trick up her sleeve, she told her husband that Mnester had refused to follow her orders (she didn’t tell him what those orders were of course). She convinced Claudius to inform everyone to treat her wishes with the utmost respect. Claudius told Mnester to precisely what Messalina wished		While Claudius was away in Britain, rumor had it that Messalina challenged Rome’s top prostitute to see who could sleep with the most men in one night. Needless to say Messalina came out on top with a total of 25 lovers. Roman historians also claim that Messalina used sex as a weapon to control politicians, and that she had a brothel under an assumed name, where she forced upper class women to work as prostitutes, and then blackmailed them. Then there was her affair with the dancer [[roman::Mnester]], who came from peasant stock, but who had worked hard . Messalina was his biggest devotee, she had statues erected, and hired poets to write odes to his hotness. But Mnester spurned her advances because he feared what would happen if Claudius found out. But Messalina had a trick up her sleeve, she told her husband that Mnester had refused to follow her orders (she didn’t tell him what those orders were of course). She convinced Claudius to inform everyone to treat her wishes with the utmost respect. Claudius told Mnester to precisely what Messalina wished

	Her husband is represented as easily led by her. At best he is either unaware of her many adulteries or at worst a cuckolded husband unable or unwilling to satisfy her sexual demands. She grew powerful in the Emperor’s court and one could only surmise that she could have only have done this with Claudius’ consent. Either, he was truly enamored with her and would deny her nothing or she was able to bully or manipulate a weak man to get what she wanted. Whatever the truth, it would take an unbelievable degree of arrogance mixed with stupidity to believe she could marry the Senator [[roman::Gaius Silius]] in [[date::48\|AD48]] while still married to Claudius. Perhaps this was a precursor to a coup but she underestimated her power, the contempt she was held in and the power Claudius wielded through the office of Emperor, especially among the soldiery. He ordered her death and she was offered the choice of suicide. Too frightened to stab herself, she was killed by a praetorian guard. The Roman Senate then ordered that Messalina's name be removed from all public or private places and all statues of her taken down		Her husband is represented as easily led by her. At best he is either unaware of her many adulteries or at worst a cuckolded husband unable or unwilling to satisfy her sexual demands. She grew powerful in the Emperor’s court and one could only surmise that she could have only have done this with Claudius’ consent. Either, he was truly enamored with her and would deny her nothing or she was able to bully or manipulate a weak man to get what she wanted. Whatever the truth, it would take an unbelievable degree of arrogance mixed with stupidity to believe she could marry the Senator [[roman::Gaius Silius]] in [[date::48\|AD48]] while still married to Claudius. Perhaps this was a precursor to a coup but she underestimated her power, the contempt she was held in and the power Claudius wielded through the office of Emperor, especially among the soldiery. He ordered her death and she was offered the choice of suicide. Too frightened to stab herself, she was killed by a praetorian guard. The Roman Senate then ordered that Messalina's name be removed from all public or private places and all statues of her taken down

Paulreed: /* Do stories of Messalina Come from Credible Historical Resources? */

2018-01-28T16:23:30Z

Do stories of Messalina Come from Credible Historical Resources?

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	++Was Messalina a Victim of Seneca's Revenge?++		==Was Messalina a Victim of Seneca's Revenge?==
	When Caligula became emperor in 38 AD, a conflict between the new ruler and Seneca appeared. It was caused by Caligula’s jealousy of Seneca’s remarkable gift for rhetoric. With Agrippina’s support, Seneca narrowly avoided execution, and when Claudius lost interest in his wife Aelia Paetina, Seneca hoped that the emperor would marry Agrippina (who appreciated Seneca). Thus, it could be said that from the beginning, Seneca was never in the group of Messalina’s supporters.		When Caligula became emperor in 38 AD, a conflict between the new ruler and Seneca appeared. It was caused by Caligula’s jealousy of Seneca’s remarkable gift for rhetoric. With Agrippina’s support, Seneca narrowly avoided execution, and when Claudius lost interest in his wife Aelia Paetina, Seneca hoped that the emperor would marry Agrippina (who appreciated Seneca). Thus, it could be said that from the beginning, Seneca was never in the group of Messalina’s supporters.

Paulreed: /* Do stories of Messalina Come from Credible Historical Resources? */

2018-01-28T16:21:48Z

Do stories of Messalina Come from Credible Historical Resources?

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:21, 28 January 2018
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	It is said that Claudius, who is considered a benign emperor, bookended by two monsters, nevertheless executed thirty five senators and three hundred Romans, mostly during his marriage to Messalina. What are we to make of Messalina's stories? It is too easy to dismiss these accounts as rantings of misogynistic men who have their nose put out by a powerful women who eventually overplayed her hand. It was not unknown that Roman women in imperial circles were not always faithful wives, the brothel story is almost surely an invention but her life as an over sexed adulterer married to older, doddery old man seems plausible. Even in recent times we are reminded of Princess Diana and her numerous affairs as evidence that these things can happen. Who knows what future historians will make of Diana's antics. Just because some of the more lurid tales are an exaggeration the charges against Messalina do seem to have more than a grain of truth. It is also possible that there was an element of subterfuge by Claudius and his inner circle. How easy would it have been to get rid of enemies and and blame it on ''the wife''		It is said that Claudius, who is considered a benign emperor, bookended by two monsters, nevertheless executed thirty five senators and three hundred Romans, mostly during his marriage to Messalina. What are we to make of Messalina's stories? It is too easy to dismiss these accounts as rantings of misogynistic men who have their nose put out by a powerful women who eventually overplayed her hand. It was not unknown that Roman women in imperial circles were not always faithful wives, the brothel story is almost surely an invention but her life as an over sexed adulterer married to older, doddery old man seems plausible. Even in recent times we are reminded of Princess Diana and her numerous affairs as evidence that these things can happen. Who knows what future historians will make of Diana's antics. Just because some of the more lurid tales are an exaggeration the charges against Messalina do seem to have more than a grain of truth. It is also possible that there was an element of subterfuge by Claudius and his inner circle. How easy would it have been to get rid of enemies and and blame it on ''the wife'' <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, 1996<ref> </ref>Juvenal Satire VI 114-135</ref>

	<gallery>		<gallery>

Paulreed: /* Messalina */

2018-01-28T16:19:51Z

Messalina

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 Her husband is represented as easily led by her. At best he is either unaware of her many adulteries or at worst a cuckolded husband unable or unwilling to satisfy her sexual demands. She grew powerful in the Emperor’s court and one could only surmise that she could have only have done this with Claudius’ consent. Either, he was truly enamored with her and would deny her nothing or she was able to bully or manipulate a weak man to get what she wanted. Whatever the truth, it would take an unbelievable degree of arrogance mixed with stupidity to believe she could marry the Senator [[roman::Gaius Silius]] in [[date::48|AD48]] while still married to Claudius. Perhaps this was a precursor to a coup but she underestimated her power, the contempt she was held in and the power Claudius wielded through the office of Emperor, especially among the soldiery. He ordered her death and she was offered the choice of suicide. Too frightened to stab herself, she was killed by a praetorian guard. The Roman Senate then ordered that Messalina's name be removed from all public or private places and all statues of her taken down
 We get our history from [[roman::author::Tacitus]] and [[roman::author::Suetonius]], as well as [[roman::author::Cassius Dio]], Pliny the Elder and Juvenal. Suetonius rarely needs much smoke to narrate to us a gossipy, scandalous blazing fire yet he seems to hold back a little with Messalina. He does not so much recount her adulteries for their own sake but as proofs of Claudius’ weaknesses and poor judgment.
 ''when he learned that besides other shameful and wicked deeds she had actually married Gaius Silius, and that a formal contract had been signed in the presence of witnesses, he put her to death and declared before the assembled praetorian guard''

Paulreed: /* Messalina */

2018-01-28T16:13:44Z

Messalina

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	She slipped in the role of empress effortlessly, starting with the re-exile of [[roman::Julia Livilla]]. She later had her executed. Agrippina sensing the same fate made her self scarce ''PDQ''		She slipped in the role of empress effortlessly, starting with the re-exile of [[roman::Julia Livilla]]. She later had her executed. Agrippina sensing the same fate made her self scarce ''PDQ''

			While Claudius was away in Britain, rumor had it that Messalina challenged Rome’s top prostitute to see who could sleep with the most men in one night. Needless to say Messalina came out on top with a total of 25 lovers. Roman historians also claim that Messalina used sex as a weapon to control politicians, and that she had a brothel under an assumed name, where she forced upper class women to work as prostitutes, and then blackmailed them. Then there was her affair with the dancer [[roman::Mnester}}, who came from peasant stock, but who had worked hard . Messalina was his biggest devotee, she had statues erected, and hired poets to write odes to his hotness. But Mnester spurned her advances because he feared what would happen if Claudius found out. But Messalina had a trick up her sleeve, she told her husband that Mnester had refused to follow her orders (she didn’t tell him what those orders were of course). She convinced Claudius to inform everyone to treat her wishes with the utmost respect. Claudius told Mnester to precisely what Messalina wished

	Her husband is represented as easily led by her. At best he is either unaware of her many adulteries or at worst a cuckolded husband unable or unwilling to satisfy her sexual demands. She grew powerful in the Emperor’s court and one could only surmise that she could have only have done this with Claudius’ consent. Either, he was truly enamored with her and would deny her nothing or she was able to bully or manipulate a weak man to get what she wanted. Whatever the truth, it would take an unbelievable degree of arrogance mixed with stupidity to believe she could marry the Senator [[roman::Gaius Silius]] in [[date::48\|AD48]] while still married to Claudius. Perhaps this was a precursor to a coup but she underestimated her power, the contempt she was held in and the power Claudius wielded through the office of Emperor, especially among the soldiery. He ordered her death and she was offered the choice of suicide. Too frightened to stab herself, she was killed by a praetorian guard. The Roman Senate then ordered that Messalina's name be removed from all public or private places and all statues of her taken down		Her husband is represented as easily led by her. At best he is either unaware of her many adulteries or at worst a cuckolded husband unable or unwilling to satisfy her sexual demands. She grew powerful in the Emperor’s court and one could only surmise that she could have only have done this with Claudius’ consent. Either, he was truly enamored with her and would deny her nothing or she was able to bully or manipulate a weak man to get what she wanted. Whatever the truth, it would take an unbelievable degree of arrogance mixed with stupidity to believe she could marry the Senator [[roman::Gaius Silius]] in [[date::48\|AD48]] while still married to Claudius. Perhaps this was a precursor to a coup but she underestimated her power, the contempt she was held in and the power Claudius wielded through the office of Emperor, especially among the soldiery. He ordered her death and she was offered the choice of suicide. Too frightened to stab herself, she was killed by a praetorian guard. The Roman Senate then ordered that Messalina's name be removed from all public or private places and all statues of her taken down

Paulreed at 20:29, 18 January 2015

2015-01-18T20:29:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:29, 18 January 2015
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	==Messalina==		==Messalina==
	[[roman::Valeria Messalina]] (c. ~~[[date::17\|~~17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor [[roman::Claudius]]. Messalina was child of ]]roman::Domitia Lepida the Younger]] and [[roman::Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus]]. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Nero]], second cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Caligula]], and great-grandniece of the Emperor [[roman::Augustus]]. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.		[[roman::Valeria Messalina]] (c. 17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor [[roman::Claudius]]. Messalina was child of ]]roman::Domitia Lepida the Younger]] and [[roman::Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus]]. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Nero]], second cousin of the Emperor [[roman::Caligula]], and great-grandniece of the Emperor [[roman::Augustus]]. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.


	Little is known about Messalina’s life prior to her marriage in 38 to her second cousin Claudius, who was then about 48 years old. But it is clear that the came from Rome's inner circle and would have been used to the taste of power. Two children were born as a result of their union: a daughter [[roman::Claudia Octavia]] (born [[date::39\|39]] or 40), a future empress, stepsister and first wife to the emperor Nero; and a son, [[roman::Britannicus]].		Little is known about Messalina’s life prior to her marriage in 38 to her second cousin Claudius, who was then about 48 years old. But it is clear that the came from Rome's inner circle and would have been used to the taste of power. Two children were born as a result of their union: a daughter [[roman::Claudia Octavia]] (born [[date::1/1/39\|39]] or 40), a future empress, stepsister and first wife to the emperor Nero; and a son, [[roman::Britannicus]].

	She slipped in the role of empress effortlessly, starting with the re-exile of [[roman::Julia Livilla]]. She later had her executed. Agrippina sensing the same fate made her self scarce ''PDQ''		She slipped in the role of empress effortlessly, starting with the re-exile of [[roman::Julia Livilla]]. She later had her executed. Agrippina sensing the same fate made her self scarce ''PDQ''