Livia Drusilla Of Rome - Empress, Political Strategist, King Maker.
Introduction
Livia Drusilla was the third wife of emperor Augustus of Rome, mother of emperor Tiberius,
and grandmother of emperor Claudius. She was one of the great women in history who achieved
prominence living in the shadow of a strong leader, serving silently as his advisor and
confidant.
Supportive of her husband's reform policies, as well as turning a blind eye to his infidelities,
she served the empire as a symbol of the loyal Roman wife, yet behind the scenes at the imperial
court, she spent much of her adult life ensuring her son's future as heir to the throne whether
he wanted it or not.
If you have not heard of Empress Livia of Rome, Sky Atlantic has a new drama seried
called, Domina, that depicts the life and trials of this powerful women in ancient roman
history. Much aligned in an earlier BBC series, Domina seeks to "reframe Livia's involvement
in public affairs as evidence of her intelligence and keen political engagement." -bbc.com
The show aires on Sky Atlantic & NOW in Europe and the UK in May 2021; and is slated for
release later in the year in the United States. If you get a chance to watch Domina, please
leave comments below to let us all know how you think she is being portrayed.
Early life & marriage to Augustus
While much of her early life remains unknown which is not uncommon for women at that time.
Livia was born January 30th, 58 or 59 BCE probably in Rome. Before she married Augustus,
she had been married to Tiberius Claudius Nero, a member of the very old and prominent
Claudian clan.
Unfortunately, her husband did not choose his political alliances wisely, he not only
sided with the conservative branch of the Senate, but also supported Mark Antony at
Philippi. Livia would follow her husband, with their son Tiberius in tow, into exile
in Greece, returning to Rome in 39 BCE.
She would have two children by Tiberius Nero; the future emperor Tiberius born in 42 BCE,
and Nero Claudius Drusus, father of the future emperor Claudius.
Livia was pregnant with another son when she divorced her husband to marry Augustus in
37 (or 38) BCE. This marriage would unite two prominent clans, the Julians (the family
of Augustus) and the Claudians (the family of Livia by marriage).
For Augustus, this marriage was, for all intended purposes, a wise decision. Livia would be
a strong supporter of her husband while maintaining a low profile. And to the people of Rome,
she would be seen as a "model of old-fashioned propriety" with intelligence, beauty, and
dignity.
Since Augustus respected Livia's opinion, she was considered by many inside and outside
the imperial court as having a significant influence on her husband's administrative
affairs. She was also considered very generous, encouraging Augustus to be merciful to his
political opponents.
Unfortunately, there were some within the imperial court that had other opinions and
who came to portray Livia in a negative light. Even going so far as to portray her as a murderess
of children and husbands.
Although she always claimed to have little impact on her husband's decisions, history
says otherwise. The two were a partnership; with her intelligence,
connections and influence, she served him as a trusted counsellour and advisor till
the end. One contemporary historian describes a loving and trusting relationship between
Livia and Augustus.
At the end, the emperor's last words were to Live mindful of our wed-lock, Livia, and
farewell. and he died kissing her.
This detail may be fictionalized but it represents Livia’s double role as a chaste and dutiful
Roman wife while having all the policital savvy needed to see that her eldest son Tiberius
became Emperor. And she, the dowager Empress.
Livia and Son, Tiberius
Like many Roman wives, Livia's official duties were mostly concerned with domestic matters.
Overseeing the running of the house and the education of her children and grandchildren.
Yet as wife of Augustus Caesar, she had much more power and influence. And while she always
remained supportive of her husband, her life-long primary concern was to ensure that her eldest
son, Tiberius would be heir to the throne.
Whether it was scheming on her part or luck, Livia's promotion of her son would ultimately
be successful.
The untimely deaths of tbe Tiberius' step-brothers, Lucius and Gaius (whom some maliciously say
Livia had a part in), brought him to the forefront in the competition for emeperor, even though
Augustus was less than willing to name Tiberius as his heir.
While Livia worked to ensure her eldest son would become emperor, she never seemed to
have actually discussed the matter with Tiberius himself.
Even though he had distinguished himself in both politics and in the field, Tiberius felt
completely out of place in the imperial house and when he fulfilled his mother's ambition
as Tiberius Caesar Augustus, he came to be remembered as a dark, reclusive and somber
ruler who never really desired to be emperor.
When Augustus died on the 19th of August14 CE, Tiberius was hailed the new Emperor. And
at first, Livia and Tiberius appeared to get along with each other in their new roles in
the empire.
Livia exercised unofficial but very real power as dowager Empress buteventually Tiberius
became resentful of his mother's political status. Particularly against the idea that
it was she who had given him the throne.
It came to a point where, whenever the senate wanted to bestow any type of divine honors
on Livea, Tiberius vetoed them all. Later he vetoed all the honors the Senate had granted
her even after her death.and cancelled the fulfillment of her will.
Livia would die at the age of 86 in 29 CE; her son would outlive her by eight years.
Livia’s character was under constant fire from the time she became part of the imperial
family to the time of her death, and one way of showing this is through the abundant murder
accusations that were brought against her.
But today, with new show Domina, we can now say that history remembers Empress Livia as
a powerful woman who stood beside her emperor husband as a devoted Roman wife; but still
was able to remove all obstacles that would have prevented her son Tiberius from sitting
on the throne
as Emperor.