Report on Livia, her life, her doings.

Essay by pj228College, Undergraduate April 2006

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Livia, one of the most important females names in all of history. She is said the be the first first lady because of her amazing power and presence. She was not the first one of course, there were others, we remember the likes of Cleopatra and many other ancient predecessors, but basically there was none as special as Livia. As for th history and Rome and Roman women, Livia stands alone. Just like Augustus was the Pater Patriae, Livia surely qualified to take the title of Mater Patriae. The woman called Princeps Femina, Livia was born in 58 B.C.E. She was the daughter of a Roman noble, his name was Marcus Livius Drusus Claudius, he who was born Appius Claudius Pulcher, and granddaughter of a Marcus Livius Drusus; for this reason she was named Livia Drusilla Livia carried the blood and prestige of both the Livii and the patrician Claudii.

Upon reaching the age of 15 or 16, she was married to a man called Tiberius Claudius Nero. Tiberius Claudius Nero was an opponent of Octavian. In the months to come, she gave birth to her first son, Tiberius and by 40 B.C.E. the family had left Rome to hide under Mark Anthony's protective wing. Soon enough the family returned to Rome, and in 38 B.C.E. Livia who was pregnant decided to divorce Tiberius in order to marry Octavian. Octavian had just recently divorced his own wife Scribonia. Its not clear what caused this decision between Livia and Octavian to marry, but it is quite safe to guess that they both wanted each other very badly. This caused a great scandal in Rome. There are many stories that were rumored, in order to help stop the scandal. The story entailed Livia traveling to her country estate an eagle dropped lap...