Roman Matrons

By hailee.deguzman
  • Period: 539 BCE to 509 BCE

    Tullia Minor

    She was the last queen of Rome and not many women ruled Rome. She's remembered by historians as a "symbol of parricide"- worse crime in Rome-. When her father Servius Tullias, the sixth king of Rome, arranged her marriage with Lucius Tarquinis, Tullia and Lucius both overthrew her father to rule Rome themselves. Her and Lucius were both exiled and she was given the name "murderer of her own father."
  • 509 BCE

    Lucretia

    Lucretia
    Lucretia was raped by the King of Rome, Tarquin. He threatened to kill her if she didn't let him do what he wanted. She killed herself because she believed it was a shame to lose your honor.
  • Period: 500 BCE to 548 BCE

    Theodora

    She was her husbands most trusted advisor, Emperor Justinan. Her superior intelligence and deft handling of affairs caused people of the Empire to believe it was she instead of Justinan ruling. She is remembered as one of the first rulers to recognize women's rights, passing laws that strictly prevent trafficking of young girls and alternating divorce laws to give women better benefits.
  • Period: 339 BCE to 453 BCE

    Aelia Pulcheria

    She was born into the ruling family of the Eastern Roman Empire and took a vow of perpetual virginity to never take a husband. After her father died she had to rule but wasn't eligible without a husband. She was forced to take a husband but he respected her wishes and the marriage was never consummated.
  • 330 BCE

    Helena

    Helena
  • Period: 250 BCE to 330 BCE

    Helena

    Arguably the most influential person in Roman history, she brought Christianity to Rome. She was also the mother of Emperor Constantine.
  • Period: 218 BCE to 222 BCE

    Julia Soaemias

    Was Julia Domma's niece and used her wealth to overthrow Macrinus and made her 14 year old son emperor. He caused many problems such as worshiping foreign gods, taking male lovers, annoying the Senate, and married a Vestal Virgin. A Praetorian Guard took him and his mothers life.
  • Period: 195 BCE to 115 BCE

    Cornelia

    She married her fathers enemy so she could bring peace between two rich and powerful families. She is also caller the "Mother of Gracchi" because she was the first women to embrace Greek culture and remained a widow after her husbands death.
  • Period: 160 BCE to 224 BCE

    Julia Maesa

    She was the sister of Julia Domma and helped to overthrow Macrinus to push her grandson onto the thrown. Since her grandson was not very popular she replaced both him and his mother with her other daughter and Julia Mamaea and Mamaea's son Alexander Severus.
  • Period: 160 BCE to 217 BCE

    Julia Domma

    She was the wife of Septimius Severus and would follow him on many campaigns to secure his empire. She encouraged philosophy in Rome and sponsored building works. She also committed suicide.
  • 149 BCE

    Lucilla

    Lucilla
    Lucilla was the second daughter and third child of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After her father was killed by Commodes, she was sent to Capri to be exiled and executed because there were claims of her trying to kill Commodes.
  • Period: 120 BCE to 54 BCE

    Aurelia Cotta

    She was the mother of Julias Caesar by Gaius Caesar. Gaius was 20 years older than she and married him out of spite that he was her fathers enemy.
  • Period: 114 BCE to 56 BCE

    Hortensia

    Growing up in her fathers house meant that she was well educated and had studied Greek and Roman history, philosophy and rhetoric. She once stated a very well said speech about women's rights and her fathers best adviser, Appian, had said "your fathers words breathed right through his very own daughters mouth."
  • 100 BCE

    Servilia

    Servilia
    She was Julias Caesar's favorite mistress for 20 years and was also the mother of Julias's murderer, Marcus Brutus. Caesar was more captivated by Servilia's cleverness than her beauty. She was also one of Rome's Grande Dames during the late Republican era.
  • Period: 100 BCE to 235 BCE

    Julia Mamaea

    She was the last powerful woman of the Severn Dynasty, she governed Rome and she had the reputation of being a Roman matron but her effective leadership went far beyond that. She was able to stabilize the Empire ever so easily.
  • Period: 83 BCE to 40 BCE

    Fulvia

    She was a wife of Mark Antony and a participant in the struggle of power against Julias Caesar. Whilst Antony was only using Fulvia for her money, she still loved him and supported him.
  • Period: 69 BCE to 11 BCE

    Octavia the Younger

    Married Mark Antony who then cheated on her with Cleopatra and left Octavia because Cleo had his twins. She never remarried and stayed loyal to Antony. After Antony's, Fulvia's, and Cleo's death, she took in their kids and raised them.
  • 59 BCE

    Julia Agrippina

    Julia Agrippina
  • Period: 58 BCE to 29

    Liva

    She was the first Empress of Rome and was known to be faithful and reliable. Her husband Agustus confided to her about the problems in the Empire and thought very highly of her.
  • 40 BCE

    Sulpicia

    Sulpicia
    Sulpicia is the only female poet from ancient Rome whos work still survives today. Her poems give us insight into the lifestyle, sexuality, and relationships of a high class women in the Augustan era.
  • Period: 17 BCE to 48 BCE

    Valeria Messalina

    Her husband Claudius was easily manipulated by her because she was the most notorious and promiscuous woman in Rome at that time. She and a prostitute had a contest one night stating that whoever can sleep with the most people in one night wins. Messalina won with 25 partners.
  • Period: 14 BCE to 59 BCE

    Julia Agrippina

    She was a very powerful empress and was forced to marry her uncle Claudius and have his kid. She killed Claudius so her son Nero would be emperor.