Messalina

Also known as: empress · Family: Julio-Claudian · Role: wife of Claudius · First appears: Claudius 17

Messalina was married to Claudius and followed his chariot in a covered litter. She had two children by him, Octavia and Britannicus. She later married Silius, described as an adulterous marriage, while Claudius suppressed his love for her because he feared danger from her conduct and believed she aspired to share the imperial dignity with Silius.

Messalina and Narcissus contrived to have Appius Silanus put to death. She then died, after which Claudius sat down to a meal. It was later reported that she had employed assassins to strangle Nero as Britannicus’s rival.

Otho intended to marry Messalina, identified in that account as Nero’s widow, and entrusted her with the care of his relics and memory. Lucius Vitellius sought her favour by taking off her shoes and wearing one of them between his toga and tunic, at times covering it with kisses.

Relationship record

Life events

• Messalina married the adulterous Silius.(Claudius 29)
  • With: Silius
  • “at the marriage of Messalina with the adulterous Silius”
• Claudius suppressed his love for Messalina because he feared danger from her conduct.(Claudius 36)
  • With: Claudius
  • “He smothered his ardent love for Messalina, not so much on account of her infamous conduct, as from apprehension of danger”
• Messalina and Narcissus contrived to have Appius Silanus put to death.(Claudius 37)
  • With: Narcissus Appius Silanus
  • “We are informed, that Appius Silanus was got rid of in the same manner, by a contrivance betwixt Messalina and Narcissus, in which they had their several parts assigned them.”
• Messalina died.(Claudius 39)
  • “Placing himself at table a little after Messalina’s death”
• Messalina reportedly employed assassins to strangle Nero.(Nero 6)
  • With: Nero
  • “it was reported, assassins were employed by Messalina, Claudius’s wife, to strangle him”
• Otho intended to marry Messalina and entrusted her with his relics and memory.(Otho 10)
  • With: Otho
  • “He likewise sent another to Messalina, Nero’s widow, whom he had intended to marry, committing to her the care of his relics and memory.”

Claudius 17

• married with Claudius “Messalina, his wife, followed his chariot in a covered litter.”

Claudius 27

• married with Claudius “He had children by three of his wives: by Urgulanilla, Drusus and Claudia; by Paetina, Antonia; and by Messalina, Octavia, and also a son, whom at first he called Germanicus, but afterwards Britannicus.”
• child: Octavia “He had children by three of his wives: by Urgulanilla, Drusus and Claudia; by Paetina, Antonia; and by Messalina, Octavia, and also a son, whom at first he called Germanicus, but afterwards Britannicus.”
• child: Britannicus “He had children by three of his wives: by Urgulanilla, Drusus and Claudia; by Paetina, Antonia; and by Messalina, Octavia, and also a son, whom at first he called Germanicus, but afterwards Britannicus.”

Claudius 29

• married with Silius “at the marriage of Messalina with the adulterous Silius”

Claudius 36

• admirer: Claudius (Claudius loved Messalina.) “He smothered his ardent love for Messalina, not so much on account of her infamous conduct, as from apprehension of danger;”
• with Silius (They were adulterous partners.) “believing that she aspired to share with Silius, her partner in adultery, the imperial dignity.”
• courtship with Silius (The text explicitly identifies Silius as Messalina's partner in adultery.) “believing that she aspired to share with Silius, her partner in adultery, the imperial dignity.”

Claudius 37

• enemies with Appius Silanus “We are informed, that Appius Silanus was got rid of in the same manner, by a contrivance betwixt Messalina and Narcissus, in which they had their several parts assigned them.”

Claudius 39

• married with Claudius “Placing himself at table a little after Messalina’s death, he enquired, ‘Why the empress did not come?’”

Nero 6

• married with Claudius “Messalina, Claudius’s wife”
• enemies with Nero “it was reported, assassins were employed by Messalina, Claudius’s wife, to strangle him, as Britannicus’s rival”

Otho 10

• admirer: Otho “He likewise sent another to Messalina, Nero’s widow, whom he had intended to marry, committing to her the care of his relics and memory.”
• married with Nero “He likewise sent another to Messalina, Nero’s widow, whom he had intended to marry, committing to her the care of his relics and memory.”

Vitellius 2

• with Lucius Vitellius (Lucius performed an elaborate act of flattery toward Messalina.) “And to leave no artifice untried to secure the favour of Claudius, who was entirely governed by his wives and freedmen, he requested as the greatest favour from Messalina, that she would be pleased to let him take off her shoes; which, when he had done, he took her right shoe, and wore it constantly betwixt his toga and his tunic, and from time to time covered it with kisses.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Made with Rho MD.