Fadilla
Encyclopedia
Annia Aurelia Fadilla, most commonly known as Fadilla (159
-died after 192
) was an influential Roman Princess and was one of the daughters born to Roman Emperor
Marcus Aurelius and Roman Empress Faustina the Younger
. She was a sister to Roman Empress Lucilla
and Roman Emperor Commodus
. Fadilla was named in honor of her late maternal aunt Aurelia Fadilla. The cognomen Fadilla, was the cognomen
of the mother and a half-sister of the previous Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Her maternal grandparents were Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius
and Roman Empress Faustina the Elder
and her paternal grandparents were Domitia Lucilla
and praetor Marcus Annius Verus
.
Fadilla was born and raised in Rome
. During the reign of her father, Fadilla married the Roman Senator, who served later as twice consul and Augur
, Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus
. Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus was a nephew of Roman Emperor Lucius Verus
who co-ruled with her father from 161-169 and through adoption was related to the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. The mother of Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus was a noblewoman called Ceionia Fabia
, who was one of the sisters of Lucius Verus. Fadilla bore Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus two children: son (Plautius) Quintillus and a daughter Plautia Servilla.
When his father died in 180, her remaining brother Commodus succeeded her father as Roman Emperor. During Commodus’ reign, Fadilla and her family lived in a private palace on Capitoline Hill
in Rome which was later bestowed by the later Roman Emperor Elagabalus
(218–222) as one of his mother’s favorite residence. Her husband became one of Commodus’ main advisers.
According to Herodian
(History of the Roman Empire 1.13.1), Fadilla warned Commodus about Marcus Aurelius Cleander, a Praetorian prefect
, who was becoming too powerful. With the help from one of her sisters, she uncovered and revealed a palace conspiracy aimed at the removal of Commodus in 189.
This article is partly based from the German version of Wikipedia
159
Year 159 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Quintillus and Priscus...
-died after 192
192
Year 192 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aelius and Pertinax...
) was an influential Roman Princess and was one of the daughters born to Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Marcus Aurelius and Roman Empress Faustina the Younger
Faustina the Younger
Annia Galeria Faustina Minor , Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger was a daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and Roman Empress Faustina the Elder. She was a Roman Empress and wife to her maternal cousin Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius...
. She was a sister to Roman Empress Lucilla
Lucilla
Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla or Lucilla was the second daughter and third child of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Roman Empress Faustina the Younger and an elder sister to future Roman Emperor Commodus....
and Roman Emperor Commodus
Commodus
Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded...
. Fadilla was named in honor of her late maternal aunt Aurelia Fadilla. The cognomen Fadilla, was the cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
of the mother and a half-sister of the previous Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Her maternal grandparents were Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius , also known as Antoninus, was Roman Emperor from 138 to 161. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and the Aurelii. He did not possess the sobriquet "Pius" until after his accession to the throne...
and Roman Empress Faustina the Elder
Faustina the Elder
Annia Galeria Faustina, more familiarly referred to as Faustina I , was a Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.-Early life:...
and her paternal grandparents were Domitia Lucilla
Domitia Lucilla
Domitia Lucilla Minor sometimes known as Domitia Calvilla or Lucilla , was a noble Roman woman who lived in the 2nd century....
and praetor Marcus Annius Verus
Marcus Annius Verus (praetor)
Marcus Annius Verus was a distinguished Roman politician who lived in the 2nd century, served as a praetor and was the biological father of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius....
.
Fadilla was born and raised in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. During the reign of her father, Fadilla married the Roman Senator, who served later as twice consul and Augur
Augur
The augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds: whether they are flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of...
, Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus
Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus
Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus was a Roman politician who lived in the 2nd century and the early 3rd century.Plautius was the son of the consul Plautius Quintillus and noblewoman Ceionia Fabia. The birth name of Plautius is unknown, he is known by his adoption name. Plautius was born and...
. Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus was a nephew of Roman Emperor Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus , was Roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius, from 161 until his death.-Early life and career:Lucius Verus was the first born son to Avidia Plautia and Lucius Aelius Verus Caesar, the first adopted son and heir of Roman Emperor Hadrian . He was born and raised in Rome...
who co-ruled with her father from 161-169 and through adoption was related to the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. The mother of Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus was a noblewoman called Ceionia Fabia
Ceionia Fabia
Ceionia Fabia was a noble Roman woman and a member of the ruling Nerva–Antonine dynasty of the Roman Empire.Fabia was the first born daughter to the Roman Senator Lucius Aelius Verus Caesar and Avidia Plautia. Her father from 136-138, was the first adopted heir and successor of the Roman Emperor...
, who was one of the sisters of Lucius Verus. Fadilla bore Marcus Peducaeus Plautius Quintillus two children: son (Plautius) Quintillus and a daughter Plautia Servilla.
When his father died in 180, her remaining brother Commodus succeeded her father as Roman Emperor. During Commodus’ reign, Fadilla and her family lived in a private palace on Capitoline Hill
Capitoline Hill
The Capitoline Hill , between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome. It was the citadel of the earliest Romans. By the 16th century, Capitolinus had become Capitolino in Italian, with the alternative Campidoglio stemming from Capitolium. The English word capitol...
in Rome which was later bestowed by the later Roman Emperor Elagabalus
Elagabalus
Elagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian on his mother's side, the son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. Early in his youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown, Emesa...
(218–222) as one of his mother’s favorite residence. Her husband became one of Commodus’ main advisers.
According to Herodian
Herodian
Herodian or Herodianus of Syria was a minor Roman civil servant who wrote a colourful history in Greek titled History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus in eight books covering the years 180 to 238. His work is not entirely reliable although his relatively unbiased account of Elagabalus is...
(History of the Roman Empire 1.13.1), Fadilla warned Commodus about Marcus Aurelius Cleander, a Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
, who was becoming too powerful. With the help from one of her sisters, she uncovered and revealed a palace conspiracy aimed at the removal of Commodus in 189.
Sources
- http://abitofhistory.net/html/rhw/f_body.htm
- http://www.livius.org/di-dn/divi_fratres/fadilla.html
- http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6756/gensadoptengbf2.swf
This article is partly based from the German version of Wikipedia