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SkriboniyaThe second wife of Octavian Augustus, mother of his only daughter Julia the Elder.
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
Life Before Octavian
Scribonia was the daughter of Lucius Scribonius Libo, a senator, and Cornelia, a granddaughter of both Pompey the Great and Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Before meeting Octavian, she was married twice. Her first husband was likely Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus, consul in 56 BC. Their son, Cornelius Marcellinus, remained with Scribonia after his father's death in 47 BC. Scribonia's second husband was Publius Cornelius Scipio Salvitto, a supporter of Pompey. They had two children: a son, Publius Cornelius Scipio (born around 46 BC), who became consul in 16 BC, and a daughter, Cornelia Scipio (born 46 BC), who married Lucius Aemilius Paullus.
Marriage to Octavian
In 40 BC, Octavian divorced his first wife, Clodia, to marry Scribonia. The marriage was short-lived. A few months after their wedding, Scribonia gave birth to Octavian's only biological child, Julia the Elder, on October 39 BC. On the same day, Octavian divorced her to marry Livia Drusilla.
Scribonia's marriage to Octavian was described as unhappy, with Octavian reportedly calling her "quarrelsome." After her divorce, she did not remarry.
Exile and Death
In 2 AD, Scribonia's daughter Julia was exiled to the island of Pandataria for alleged adultery and treason. Scribonia begged to accompany her daughter and received permission. They remained on the small island for over five years, where no men were allowed to set foot without Augustus's consent. In 7 AD, they were allowed to leave and reside in Rhegium.
In 14 AD, after Augustus's death, Scribonia's daughter's allowance was significantly reduced by Tiberius. Julia died shortly after, and Scribonia outlived her daughter by two years, dying in 16 AD.
