Sneha Girap (Editor)

Statilia Messalina

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Tenure
  
AD 66 – 9 June AD 68

Died
  
Rome, Italy

Issue
  
a son

Parents
  
Titus Statilius Taurus

Father
  
Titus Statilius Taurus

Name
  
Statilia Messalina


Statilia Messalina

House
  
Julio-Claudian Dynasty (by marriage)

Spouse
  
Nero (m. 66 AD–68 AD), Marcus Julius

Similar People
  
Nero, Claudia Octavia, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, Poppaea Sabina, Sporus

Grandparents
  
Tito Estatilio Tauro

Statilia Messalina (c. AD 35 – after AD 68) was a Roman patrician woman, a Roman Empress and third wife to Roman Emperor Nero.

Contents

Statilia Messalina HumanitiesWeborg Bust of Statilia Messalina third wife of Nero

Family Background

Statilia Messalina wwwromeandarteuimagesnewsstatilia0jpg

The ancient sources say little of her family; however, Suetonius states that she was a great-great-granddaughter of Titus Statilius Taurus, a Roman General who won a triumph and was twice consul. She was the daughter of Titus Statilius Taurus Corvinus who was consul in 45 AD and who was involved in a plot against the Emperor Claudius in 46 AD or a daughter of the sister of Corvinus, Statilia Messallina. Her family is related to Valeria Messalina, one of the daughters of Roman Senator, Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus who served as consul in 31 BC.

Life

Her first husband was the consul Marcus Julius Vestinus Atticus to whom she may have borne a son (who died in 88). Around 65, she became Nero's mistress. After the death of the emperor's second wife Poppaea Sabina, Vestinus was forced to commit suicide in 66, so Nero could marry Statilia.

Although witty and scheming, she was far less flamboyant than her predecessor and kept a rather low profile in the public eye. She was one of the few of Nero's courtiers who survived the fall of his reign. After Nero's death, Otho promised that he would marry her, before his suicide in 69.

Ancient

  • Tacitus
  • Suetonius
  • Juvenal
  • References

    Statilia Messalina Wikipedia


    Similar Topics