Domitia Corbula
Encyclopedia
Domitia Corbula was a Roman noble woman born in 47 AD. She was the eldest daughter to Roman Consul and General Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo
and Cassia Longina. Her younger sister was Domitia Longina
, a future Roman Empress who would marry Emperor Domitian
. Her paternal aunt was Caligula
's fourth wife Milonia Caesonia.
She married in 63, to Lucius Julius Africanus
Minor. Lucius was the son of the influential orator Lucius Julius Africanus
Major and Salvia (sister of Otho
). This was an uncommon marriage in Rome, because they were in love with each other before they married. Lucius' and Corbula's families were very influential, which provoked them to plot against Nero
.
Lucius left to the Euphrates
, shortly after they married. He acted as a military commander under his father-in-law, Corbulo. In 66, a conspiracy was revealded that involved both Lucius, Lucius' father, and Corbulo to overthrow the Roman Emperor Nero
. When Nero found out about the plot, he called Lucius to Rome. Lucius was immediately executed without a trial. Corbulo faced the same fate a few months later.
Upon her husbands execution in 68, Corbula was left a pregnant widow. In February of 69, she gave birth to a son called Postumus. Corbula quickly remarried to Appius Julius Africanus, the brother of Lucius. This marriage was very happy, but did not produce any children. Corbula died on July 1, 71 AD, on what would have been her two year anniversary with Appius. Postumus was raised by his stepfather/uncle and rose to praetorship during the reign of Domitian.
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo was a Roman general and a brother-in-law of the emperor Caligula.-Descent:Corbulo was born in Italy into a senatorial family...
and Cassia Longina. Her younger sister was Domitia Longina
Domitia Longina
Domitia Longina was an Empress of Rome and wife to the Roman Emperor Domitian. She was the youngest daughter of the general and consul Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. Domitia divorced her first husband Lucius Aelius Lamia in order to marry Domitian in 71...
, a future Roman Empress who would marry Emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
. Her paternal aunt was Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
's fourth wife Milonia Caesonia.
She married in 63, to Lucius Julius Africanus
Julius Africanus
Julius Africanus was a celebrated orator in the reign of Nero, and seems to have been the son of the Julius Africanus, of the Gallic state of the Santoni, who was condemned by Tiberius in 32 AD. Quintilian, who had heard Julius Africanus, spoke of him and Domitius Afer as the best orators of their...
Minor. Lucius was the son of the influential orator Lucius Julius Africanus
Julius Africanus
Julius Africanus was a celebrated orator in the reign of Nero, and seems to have been the son of the Julius Africanus, of the Gallic state of the Santoni, who was condemned by Tiberius in 32 AD. Quintilian, who had heard Julius Africanus, spoke of him and Domitius Afer as the best orators of their...
Major and Salvia (sister of Otho
Otho
Otho , was Roman Emperor for three months, from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the four emperors.- Birth and lineage :...
). This was an uncommon marriage in Rome, because they were in love with each other before they married. Lucius' and Corbula's families were very influential, which provoked them to plot against Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
.
Lucius left to the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
, shortly after they married. He acted as a military commander under his father-in-law, Corbulo. In 66, a conspiracy was revealded that involved both Lucius, Lucius' father, and Corbulo to overthrow the Roman Emperor Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
. When Nero found out about the plot, he called Lucius to Rome. Lucius was immediately executed without a trial. Corbulo faced the same fate a few months later.
Upon her husbands execution in 68, Corbula was left a pregnant widow. In February of 69, she gave birth to a son called Postumus. Corbula quickly remarried to Appius Julius Africanus, the brother of Lucius. This marriage was very happy, but did not produce any children. Corbula died on July 1, 71 AD, on what would have been her two year anniversary with Appius. Postumus was raised by his stepfather/uncle and rose to praetorship during the reign of Domitian.
Sources
- Tacitus - Annals of Imperial Rome
- Suetonius - The Twelve Caesars - Domitian
- http://www.maat.it/livello2-i/nerone-1-i.htm