Vicious, scheming and evil: the Roman historian, Tacitus, described the Roman Empress Livia Drusilla as a serpent, a woman who would stop it nothing to get her way, even resorting to murder for her own means to advance. However, Tacitus and other historians replied upon the rumors and gossip that surrounded the Empress and did not consider the regime she associated herself with nor of the achievements she had accomplished.
The Early Life and First Marriage of Livia
Livia Drusilla, possibly the younger daughter of Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus and his wife Aifidia, was born around 59 or 58 B.C.E. Almost nothing is known about her childhood, but it is recorded that, in 43 B.C.E., she married her cousin, Tiberius Claudius Nero, who fought against Julius Caesar’s grand nephew, Octavian, with Caesar’s assassins.
In 42 B.C.E., after Livia’s father had committed suicide at the Battle of Philippi during the civil wars of Rome, Nero and his family moved out of Rome, seeing Octavian victorious, and headed to Greece. Three years later – after having a son and being pregnant with another child – Livia was allowed back into Rome with Nero, but upon meeting Octavian, the two were said to have fallen in love. On the day Octavian’s wife, Scribonia, gave birth to his only daughter, Julia, he divorced her, urging Nero to do the same, and married Livia.
Empress Livia
Although the ruling family of Rome, according to Caesar’s will, Octavian and Livia still had to fight the civil wars that embroiled the country. Fighting against Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and Marc Antony, Octavian’s former brother-in-law, Rome did not see stability until Octavian claimed it permanently through military force in 31 B.C.E., with the capture and annexation of Egypt and the death of both the Queen and Marc Antony.
Renamed Augustus, Octavian ruled Rome, his chief advisor being Livia. Although no children came from the marriage, Augustus took custody of Julia and overwhelmed Livia’s sons from Nero – Tiberius and Drusus – with great honors. Livia, on the other hand, also had Augustus’ ear and persuaded him to name her son Tiberius as his heir after tragedy stoke the family again and again, eliminating heirs. The multiple deaths in the family – Julia’s first husband Marcellus, Julia’s children and even Livia’s son Drusus – were pinned in Livia, who was often blamed for their deaths because of his unwomanly Roman behavior, her ambitious streak and also through her influence on Augustus.
In 14 C.E., Augustus died, leaving Tiberius – Livia’s son and his stepson – Emperor of Rome. Although rumors flew that Livia, considered to be a faithful wife to Augustus, poisoned him (much like her “rivals”), the power behind the throne continued to work against the resurrection of a Roman Republic, but was soon put into retirement, given enough land to support herself.
The Later Life and Legacy and Livia: Roman Monster or Competent Advisor?
Although banned from power, Livia enjoyed her life as Empress Dowager. Tiberius had healed the rift between them somewhat and had passed a law in favor of her: making it treason to speak out against his mother. He also gave her a seat with the Vestal Virgins, who were the Earthy guardians of the goddess Vesta’s sacred fire.
Relations between the two went downhill afterward. History records of Tiberius becoming angry when forced to divorce his wife Vispania and marrying Julia and becoming tired of his mother’s political interference. Whatever the case was, when Livia died in 29 C.E., her final will was overlooked and her funeral boycotted by Tiberius. The final wish – that she become a goddess – was also ignored by Tiberius. It would take thirteen years before Livia was granted her wish, in the form of her grandson, Claudius, who renamed her Divine Augusta.
However, the question remains: was Livia evil or was she respected? Although the first woman in Europe to have public representations of her and to be widely praised by her contemporaries, Livia was considered to be a part of a regime that was known for its rise to power and how it treated its people. In turn, it was easy for later historians like Tacitus to put the blame on Livia for the misfortunes of the people and especially the royal family.
Livia was actually popular in Roman circles. As Augustus’ wife and constant helpmate, she gained the deference and esteem of those around her, gaining power that no other Roman woman after her has ever achieved. She also set the stage for the standards a Roman wife – and later Empresses – should be and her tireless efforts to keep Rome afloat helped the future generations until its collapse.
Sources:
Gold, Claudia. "Livia, Empress of Rome". Queen, Empress, Concubine. London: Quercus Publishing Company, 2008.
Emily Swearingen - I don't consider anything special about me. I'm just a regular college student writer. However, because of reading, I got into writing. ...
Join the Conversation