Scribonia (wife of Crassus)

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For other people with similar names, see Scribonia gens and Scribonia (disambiguation).

Scribonia Magna (fl. 1st century), known in modern historical sources as Scribonia Crassi, was a Roman noblewoman. Scribonia was the daughter of Lucius Scribonius Libo (consul 16), and Cornelia Pompeia.

Lineage[]

Scribonia was a noblewoman of the highest birth and descended from ancient, distinguished and politically influential families. Her maternal grandparents were Pompeia and Lucius Cornelius Cinna (son of the four-time consul Lucius Cornelius Cinna), while her paternal grandparents were Lucius Scribonius Libo (consul of 34 BC) and his wife (who was a member of the gens Sulpicia, the family who later included the Roman emperor Galba, a descendent on his paternal side). Scribonia's parents were both direct descendants of Pompeia Magna, the daughter of triumvir Pompey from his third marriage to Mucia Tertia. Lucius Scribonius Libo was a descendant of Pompeia Magna, from her first marriage to the senator Faustus Cornelius Sulla (son of the dictator Sulla), while Cornelia Pompeia Magna was the daughter of Pompeia Magna from her second marriage to suffect consul Lucius Cornelius Cinna.

Biography[]

Scribonia was born before 16, as in that year her father was executed by the Roman emperor Tiberius, who had charged him in planning a revolt against the emperor. Scribonia was born and raised in Rome. Very little is known of her life.

Scribonia married Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi,[1] a man of consular rank. Frugi's father, consul and governor Marcus Licinius Crassus, was the adopted son of consul and general Marcus Licinius Crassus the grandson of triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus. He was the last known direct descendant of the triumvir who bore his name.

Children and descendants[]

Scribonia bore Frugi the following children:

  • Son, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus.[1] He married Roman princess Claudia Antonia in 43, the daughter and only child of Roman emperor Claudius from his second marriage to Aelia Paetina. Magnus was murdered in 47.
  • Son, Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi. He served as consul in 64[1] under Roman emperor Nero. Nero had Frugi executed between 66 and 68, because of information brought against him by Marcus Aquilius Regulus.[2] After his death, his widow with their children went to a Roman Senate meeting in 70 early in the reign of Roman emperor Vespasian, seeking vengeance for Frugi's death.[2] Regulus with his associated political circle was prosecuted by the Roman Senate.[3] The wife of Frugi was Sulpicia Praetextata daughter of the suffect consul in 46, Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus Peticus.[4] With Sulpicia Praetextata, Frugi had four children:
  • Son, Marcus Licinius Crassus Scribonianus.[1] Sometime between 68 and 69 the general Marcus Antonius Primus, had offered Scribonianus the Roman Empire and position of Roman emperor; however Scribonianus refused to accept this.
  • Son, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus[1] or Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus (38-69). Licinianus was adopted by the brief Roman emperor Galba, who reigned between 68 and 69. Licinianus became Galba's son and heir, who was murdered on the orders of Otho, when trying to obtain the Roman throne. Licinianus married a Roman woman called Verania Germina, who came from a family of consular rank.
  • Daughter, Licinia Magna. She married the Senator Lucius Calpurnius Piso,[1] who served as one of the consuls in 57.[6] Piso was later killed by Roman emperor Vespasian as an enemy of the emperor. Licinia died at an unknown date from 70 until 80 as her grave altar is dated from this period, which was found on the grounds of Villa Bonaparte near the Porta Salaria. The land may have been part of the family's suburban estates and her grave altar is on display at the Vatican Museums.[7] Licinia and Piso had one child:
    • Daughter, Calpurnia, who married Calpurnius Piso Galerianus, son of Gaius Calpurnius Piso (co-consul in 41 with Claudius).[8] Calpurnius Piso Galerianus was executed in 70 for opposing Vespasian.[9]

Death[]

In the spring of 47 Scribonia, her husband and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus were executed on the orders of Roman empress Valeria Messalina. After Scribonia, her husband and her son had died, the three were placed in the tomb of Licinii Calpurnii that is located on the Via Salaria. Also placed in the tomb was their son, Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi II.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Syme, The Roman Revolution, p.578
  2. ^ a b Shelton, The Women of Pliny's Letters, p. 153
  3. ^ Rutledge, Imperial Inquisitions: Prosecutors and Informants from Tiberius to Domitian, p. 119
  4. ^ a b Rudich, Political Dissidence Under Nero: The Price of Dissimulation, p. 203
  5. ^ Romeins Imperium – Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi translated from Dutch to English
  6. ^ Elsner, Life, Death and Representation: Some New Work on Roman Sarcophagi, p. 57
  7. ^ Elsner, Life, Death and Representation: Some New Work on Roman Sarcophagi, pp. 31, 46
  8. ^ The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. 5, VII ed. London: Cambridge University Press, 1970-2007.
  9. ^ Anne Publie. "Les Cneuius". [1] & Anne Publie. "Les Caesoninus" [2]

Other sources[]

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