Claudius and his Four Wives
Valeria Messalina (c. 17/20–48) was the third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius. She was also a paternal cousin of the Emperor Nero, second cousin of the Emperor Caligula, and great-grandniece of the Emperor Augustus. A powerful and influential woman with a reputation for promiscuity, she married her lover while still married to Claudius. An act for which she was executed.
Little is known about Messalina’s life prior to her marriage in 38 to her second cousin Claudius, who was then about 48 years old. But it is clear that the came from Rome's inner circle and would have been used to the taste of pwer. Two children were born as a result of their union: a daughter Claudia Octavia (born 39 or 40), a future empress, stepsister and first wife to the emperor Nero; and a son, Britannicus.
Her husband is represented as easily led by her. At best he is either unaware of her many adulteries or at worst a cuckolded husband unable or unwilling to satisfy her sexual demands. She grew powerful in the Emperor’s court and one could only surmise that she could have only have done this with Claudius’ consent. Either, he was truly enamored with her and would deny her nothing or she was able to bully or manipulate a weak man to get what she wanted. Whatever the truth, it would take an unbelievable degree of arrogance mixed with stupidity to believe she could marry the Senator Gaius Silius in AD48 while still married to Claudius. Perhaps this was a precursor to a coup but she underestimated her power, the contempt she was held in and the power Claudius wielded through the office of Emperor, especially amongst the soldiery. He ordered her death and she was offered the choice of suicide. Too frightened to stab herself, she was killed by a praetorian guard. The Roman Senate then ordered that Messalina's name be removed from all public or private places and all statues of her taken down We get our history from Tacitus and Suetonius, as well as Pliny the Elder and Juvenal. Suetonius rarely needs much smoke to narrate to us a gossipy, scandalous blazing fire yet he seems to hold back a little with Messalina. He does not so much recount her adulteries for their own sake but as proofs of Claudius’ weaknesses and poor judgment.
when he learned that besides other shameful and wicked deeds she had actually married Gaius Silius, and that a formal contract had been signed in the presence of witnesses, he put her to death and declared before the assembled praetorian guard
So, not much detail beyond a vague and all encompassing ‘’shameful and wicked deeds’’. His next reference to Messalina likewise is made only to show Claudius bemoaning and fearful of conspiracies from all directions rather than a strong leader taking charge of events
His ardent love for Messalina too was cooled, not so much by her unseemly and insulting conduct, as through fear of danger, since he believed that her paramour Silius aspired to the throne. On that occasion he made a shameful and cowardly flight to the camp, doing nothing all the way but ask whether his throne was secure.
Even when Suetonius recounts a particularly nasty piece of subterfuge by Messalina, he is really making the point that Claudius was gullible and superstitious
Appius Silanus met his downfall. When Messalina and Narcissus had put their heads together to destroy him, they agreed on their parts and the latter rushed into his patron's bed-chamber before daybreak in pretended consternation, declaring that he had dreamed that Appius had made an attack on the emperor. Then Messalina, with assumed surprise, declared that she had had the same dream for several successive nights. A little later, as had been arranged, Appius, who had received orders the day before to come at that time, was reported to be forcing his way in, and as if were proof positive of the truth of the dream, his immediate accusation and death were ordered.
Finally, Suetonius wants to paint Claudius as dithering, doddery, forgetful old man, who does not remember executing his wife. Although you wonder if Suetonius has his tongue firmly in his cheek when he says.
When he had put Messalina to death, he asked shortly after taking his place at the table why the empress did not come. He caused many of those whom he had condemned to death to be summoned the very next day to consult with him or game with him, and sent a messenger to upbraid them for sleepy-heads when they delayed to appear
We pick up on Messalina in the eleventh book of Tacitus’ Annals when she is at the height of her power. Tacitus provides much more of a narrative account of Messalina’s character and events. He starts by telling us that she, although a great beauty herself was jealous of Poppaea Sabina (mother of the wife of Nero of the same name) and attempted to smear hear name alongside her lover. She was helped by Lucius Vitellius, father of the short lived emperor Vitellius
She hastened herself to effect Poppaea's destruction, and hired agents to drive her to suicide by the terrors of a prison. Caesar meanwhile was so unconscious that a few days afterwards he asked her husband Scipio, who was dining with him, why he sat down to table without his wife, and was told in reply that she had paid the debt of nature.
Messalina had a eye for good looking men and it was not long before she used her charms to lure a young noble called Caius Silius to her bed. He knew to refuse her would lead to his destruction. Yet to fall under her control was equally dangerous. He thought it best to go along for the ride as it were Tacitus observes that danger itself was the best safety. She showered him with gifts to such an extent that...
the very furniture of the emperor were to be seen in the possession of the paramour.
Why Silius thought that he and Messalina could marry without consequence while Claudius was visiting Ostia was truly astonishing even in a debased Rome. Even Tacitus is lost of explanation when he says I do but relate what I have heard and what our fathers have recorded
It was likely that Narcissus, one of Claudius' most trusted freedmen had also had an affair with Messalina and was not best disposed to her when she married Silius. It was he who hatch the plan to have the ex-prostitute and trusted friend of Claudius to tell him of the marriage The next step in the plan was to prevent Messalina from seeing Claudius and begging for mercy
On this, Calpurnia (that was the woman's name), as soon as she was allowed a private interview, threw herself at the emperor's knees, crying out that Messalina was married to Silius
Messalina was apparently unaware partying at her house with her friends, drinking and indulging in Bacchanalian dances when the troops came to arrest her. Caught up in this debacle many Roman knights met their doom on the orders of Narcissus. Claudius seemed unwilling to take charge and let event s fall as they may. Messalina meanwhile believed that she could have Octavia and Brittanicus entreat Claudius on her behalf even if she could not see him personally. However Narcissus knew time was short and sent troops with an order of execution. Time was up and Messalina held a dagger to her throat in the presence of her mother Lepida but she could not bring herself to commit suicide even when the troops rushed in. Still she hesitated until on ethe guards dispatched her.
Claudius was hosting a banquet when he was told of the news. He was not curious as to how he had died but asked for his wine cup to be refilled.
they told him that Messalina was dead, without mentioning whether it was by her own or another's hand. Nor did he ask the question, but called for the cup and finished his repast as usual
