Augustus and livia relationship
Livia Druzilla
| Roman empress, wife of Octavian Augustus (38 BC - 14), mother of Emperor Tiberius, grandmother of Emperor Caligula. Country: Italy |
Biography of Livia Drusilla
Livia Drusilla, also known as Julia Augusta or Livia Augusta, was born on September 28, 58 BCE, in Rome.
She was a Roman empress, the wife of Octavian Augustus, the mother of Emperor Tiberius, and the grandmother of Emperor Caligula. She was also the great-grandmother of Emperor Claudius and the great-great-grandmother of Emperor Nero. Livia was later deified by Emperor Claudius and became the most powerful and revered woman in the history of Ancient Rome.
Livia was born into the family of Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus, who was descended from Appius Claudius Caecus and his wife Avidia, the daughter of Avidius Lurco from the plebeian class.
She was most likely the second daughter in her family. In 42 BCE, she was married to Tiberius Claudius Nero, her paternal cousin, who was 43 years old at the time. Her father and husband supported the side of Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassius, and fought against Octavian during the Battle of Philippi. After the battle, her father was forced to commit suicide.
Her husband continued to oppose Octavian, first on the side of Sextus Pompey and then with Mark Antony and his brother, Lucius Antony.
In 40 BCE, fearing persecution from Octavian, the family was forced to flee Rome.
Historia de livia drusilla biography Francis I: Holy Roman Emperor. Livia would set the pattern for the noble Roman matrona. After Augustus died in AD 14, Tiberius was elevated, and Livia continued to exert political influence as the mother of the emperor until her death in AD Art History U.They first went to Sicily and then sought refuge in Greece, with their young son Tiberius. In 39 BCE, Octavian declared amnesty, and Livia and her husband were able to return to Rome. At that time, Livia was pregnant with their second son, Drusus, who was born at the beginning of 38 BCE. There were rumors that Drusus was actually the son of Octavian, not Tiberius Claudius.
Legend has it that Octavian fell in love with Livia at first sight when she was introduced to him in 39 BCE. Regardless, he divorced his second wife Scribonia on the same day she gave birth to their daughter Julia the Elder. Tiberius Claudius was also forced to divorce Livia, who was six months pregnant at the time.
On January 14, Livia gave birth to her son, and on January 17, disregarding all traditional conventions (Romans were not allowed to remarry for a certain period after divorce), Octavian and Livia got married.
Her ex-husband was present at the wedding as the father of her children. Livia was 19 years old at the time, and Octavian was After the suicide of Mark Antony, Octavian, now known as Caesar Augustus, became the sole ruler of the state. Livia always played a significant role in state affairs and acted as a counselor and assistant to Augustus.
Livia drusilla Her management of estates and patronage ensured the financial stability and political success of her family. After Augustus died in AD 14, Tiberius was elevated, and Livia continued to exert political influence as the mother of the emperor until her death in AD Read Edit View history. Augustus 27 BC — ADFrom 35 BCE, when Augustus granted her the right to independently manage finances and have her own clients, she became even more involved in politics, promoting worthy individuals in the highest government circles. Many owed their political careers to her, including future Emperor Galba and the father of Otho.
Since Livia and Augustus had no children together, and Emperor Augustus had only one legitimate child, Julia the Elder, Livia also sought to secure power for her own children.
Tiberius became the third husband of his step-sister Julia in 11 BCE, and Drusus was married to Antonia Minor, the beloved niece of Emperor Augustus. In 4 BCE, Augustus acknowledged Tiberius as his successor. Having achieved high government positions and a brilliant future for her children, Livia did everything in her power to ensure the stability of their positions.
She protected Tiberius' position from any instability.
Historia de livia drusilla biography images: In his will, he left one third of his property to Livia, and the other two thirds to Tiberius. January 8, In literature and popular culture [ edit ]. The Library of New Testament Studies
Starting from 23 BCE, one after another, all those who could claim the throne died or were executed: Marcellus (23 BCE), Augustus' nephew; Lucius Vipsanius Agrippa (2 BCE) and Gaius Vipsanius Agrippa (4 BCE), the children of Julia the Elder from her second marriage to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, adopted by Augustus under the names Lucius Julius Caesar and Gaius Julius Caesar Vipsanianus, respectively; and Agrippa Postumus (14 CE), the last son of Julia the Elder.
Tacitus directly states that Livia was responsible for these deaths, as she cleared the way for her own children. The same can be found in the writings of Dion Cassius. However, Suetonius does not mention Livia's involvement in their deaths, but he also claims that Augustus chose Tiberius as his successor because there were no other worthy candidates.
Dion goes even further in his suspicions and claims that Livia poisoned Augustus in 14 CE using poison-soaked figs.
However, neither Suetonius nor Tacitus confirm this.
In their married life, the marriage of Livia and Augustus can be considered happy. She was his favorite advisor, and he listened to her words and respected her advice. She was by his side almost all the time, even until his death. He died on August 19, 14 CE, in Nola, in her and Tiberius' arms.
Historia de livia drusilla biography pdf Wife to Augustus [ edit ]. The most famous of these rumors was that Livia, unable to poison his food in the kitchens because Augustus insisted on only eating figs picked fresh from his garden, smeared each fruit with poison while still on the tree to preempt him. Archived from the original on 3 November Although he was a powerful and wealthy man, he lacked the prestigious familial background that Livia enjoyed.He was 75 years old, and she was They had lived together for 51 years.
After Augustus' death, he was deified by the Senate. According to his will, he left one-third of his wealth to Livia and two-thirds to Tiberius. He also posthumously declared Livia a member of the patrician Julian family and gave her the name Julia Augusta, solidifying her high status.
Initially, as the new emperor, Tiberius frequently appeared in public with Livia.
From 20 CE, speaking against her was considered a state crime.
In 24 CE, she was honored to sit at games or in the theater with the Vestal Virgins. In essence, she was the hidden ruler of the state.
However, Tiberius soon grew cold towards his mother and her unlimited power. He vetoed the Senate's attempt to grant her the title of Mater Patriae ("Mother of the Fatherland"), equivalent to the title of Pater Patriae ("Father of the Fatherland") given to emperors.
Tacitus claims that even Tiberius' departure to Capri was due to his inability to tolerate his mother any longer.
During the entire time Tiberius was absent from Rome, they only saw each other once.
Historia de livia drusilla biography wikipedia They then lived with Livia and Augustus. She is said to have loved this Vinum Pucinum for its medicinal properties and at the end of her long life she was 87 she attributed her old age to its consumption and commended it to everyone as an "elixir for a long life". These actions solidified her position as the matriarch of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Livia's image evolves with different styles of portraiture that trace her effect on imperial propaganda that helped bridge the gap between her role as wife to the emperor Augustus, to mother of the emperor Tiberius.Livia continued to wield almost unlimited power, even defending her trusted individuals in court (Urgulanilla, who claimed that her friendship with Livia put her above the law; Plancina, who was suspected of murder and acquitted with the help of Livia). In addition, she erected a statue of Augustus in Rome dedicated to the Julias, on which she inscribed her name above Tiberius' name.
She died in 29 CE, and Tiberius did not attend her funeral, sending Caligula to oversee the funeral ceremonies.
He declared her will invalid and forbade the Senate from honoring her in any way.
Only in 42 CE did Claudius restore her memory, pay her the honors due, and deify her, giving her the title "Divine Augusta." Games were held in her honor, with her statue being carried in a chariot drawn by elephants. Her statues were erected alongside those of Augustus, and women made vows in her name.