Messalina

Valeria Messalina (22 - 48) wasthird wife ofRoman emperor Claudius. She wasdaughterDomitia Lepida (granddaughterMark Antony)Valerius Messalla Barbatus, so ofnoble family,she had beenregular atcourtCaligula.

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She married Claudius around 38 A.D.bore him two children, Britannicus (~39 - 55 A.D.), who might actually have been fathered by Caligula,Octavia (~41 - 62 A.D.), who married her own stepbrotheremperor Nero. In 48 Messalina conspiredkill ClaudiusCaius Silius while her husband wasOstia. She actually went throughpublic marriage ceremonySilius (he was also already married,Junia Silana); her motivationbelievedhave beenprotectionpowerfulpopular Silius could give her overweaknessClaudius,her plotting was sufficiently promising that many senior officials were swayedher side. Exposed by Narcissus, an advisorClaudius, Messalina, Silius andnumberothers were summarily executed. Messalina was apparently offeredopportunitysuicide but was unabledo it.

Her reputationvery poor,numberRoman historians (mainly TacitusSuetonius) portray her ascruel, avaricious, foolish nymphomaniac who had many wild affairsduped Claudiusmanipulated him into executing those who displeased or spurned her. Shealso recorded asloverpartiesfestivities as well asenthusiastic playercourt politics, selling her influenceRoman noblesforeign notables. Her namenow used assynonymothersher supposed vices.

Aswife she succeeded Plautia UrgulanillaAelia Paetina. She wasturn replaced by AgrippinaYounger.