Messalina - Infamous Wife of Emperor Claudius
One of the Most Cruelly Ambitious Women of Ancient Rome
Feb 21, 2009
Valeria Messalina was the third wife of Tiberius Claudius Caesar. Before he ascended the throne, Claudius had never been valued as a man of importance. This was due to the physical disabilities he had suffered from birth. It is likely Messalina married him in order to align herself with a powerful family, rather than in the hope Claudius would ever be crowned Emperor. Whatever the reason, circa CE 38, fifteen year old Messalina married the fifty year old Claudius. One year later she gave birth to a daughter, Octavia.
Messalina was of noble birth herself. Her mother was Domitia Lepida (the granddaughter of Mark Anthony) and her father was the famous Roman Consul, Valerius Messalla Barbatus. Messalina enjoyed many privileges, but most importantly that of being a member of Caligula's household. Given Caligula's despotic and tyrannical leadership, it is easy to understand how she would have grown up fully aware of the intrigues of court and the precariousness of human life.
In CE 41, Caligula was assassinated. Claudius was crowned Emperor and Messalina fell into the role of consort with great aplomb. She revelled in her new-found position, which was further secured when she gave birth to a son, Britannicus. As mother of the heir apparent she now enjoyed more influence over her husband and the court.
On assuming the throne, the even minded Claudius recalled his two nieces, Agrippina the Younger and Julia Livilla, from exile. They had been sent there by the Emperor Tiberius after their brother, Caligula, had abused and raped them. Messalina felt threatened by their return, she knew that her husband had always favoured these women. She took a particular dislike to Julia, who seemed to be vying for Claudius's attention. Messalina swiftly pointed out to Claudius that he was involving himself in incest and Claudius was forced to send Julia back into exile. Here the girl was secretly executed.
Life of Debauchery and Violence
Messalina had several lovers in the early stages of her marriage and her power over her husband meant that her turned a blind eye. Anyone who dared stand in her way was said to have become an immediate victim of her cruelty. On her word several courtiers were put to death.
Appius Silanus was one of her victims. He was married to Messalina's mother and a close friend of the Emperor's. Messalina made it known to him she found him attractive, he spurned her advances, explaining he was her stepfather aswell as being a friend of her husband's. Humiliated, she enlisted the help of a servant called Narcissus who told the Emperor of a dream he had had in which Silanus had attempted to kill the Emperor. Messalina told Claudius of a similar dream she had had. Claudius felt he had no option but to have Silanus killed.
Herein lies one of the reasons Messalina enjoys the reputation she has today. After Caligula's death the Roman populace was eager to acquire a ruler who respected tradition and valued moral conservatism. In Claudius they had found the right man but they expected an equally virtuous woman to be at his side.
But Messalina scorned tradition and was never going to live up to what people wanted. Her list of vices were long and inglorious. She sold citizenships for her own profit, gave out building contracts to those who offered the highest bribe. She was an insult to everything considered Roman.
The affair that finally put an end to all her plotting, and indeed her life, involved a young consul-designate named Caius Silius. The fact that Messalina chose not to hide the affair shows either how naive she was, to believe she could escape punishment. Or how secure she felt in her husband's love.
Over the years, in an attempt to hide all trace of her debauchery, Messalina's lovers were often murdered if the affair went too far. Claudius, as her husband and as Emperor was implicated in these executions. But he was now in danger of becoming a laughing stock. To the people of Rome, the position of Emperor was considered a semi-sacred one. Messalina's behaviour was dragging him down.
Something needed to be done and eventually, after seven years of increasing depravities. Messalina gave him the perfect excuse when she married her lover, Caius Silius.
The ceremony was said to have taken place while Claudius was on an official vist to Ostia. On his return he was informed what had occured. Claudius returned to the imperial palace dtermined to purge himself of Caius Silius, his wife and all the guests at the wedding. Once Siluis and the guests had been put to death, Claudius returned to his bedchamber to deal with Messalina. Here, Claudius's resolution began to fail him as Messalina had sent their two children to plead for her life.
Consequently, Claudius's courtiers took over the reins of office and ordered the centurions to execute Messalina. On seeing the guards Messalina attempted to take her own life by slashing her wrists. But one of the centurions finished the job off for her by stabbing her to death. Almost immediately all the statues of Messalina were removed from all over Rome.
Messalina did not fade from memory quickly. In life she had amazes ancient Rome with her infamous behaviour and in death her reputation continues to amaze. Her scheming and violence has ensured her name would be remembered long after her death.
Source:
Klein Shelley The Most Evil Women in History, Michael O' Mara Books,London,2003
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