Valeria Messalina Third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius, mother of Britannicus and Claudius Octavia. Country: Italy

Biography of Valeria Messalina

Valeria Messalina was the third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius and the mother of Britannicus and Claudia Octavia. She was born to Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus, a consul in 20 AD, who came from the patrician Valerian family. Her mother was Domitia Lepida the Younger, the daughter of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, a consul in 16 BC, and Antonia the Elder. Her mother and father were first cousins. Her father's mother was Claudia Marcella, the daughter of Octavia the Younger from her first marriage to Gaius Claudius Marcellus. Claudia Marcella also gave birth to Antonia the Elder after being married to Mark Antony in 40 BC. There are two theories about Valeria's father: the most common one is that he was the son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus Appianus, a consul in 12 BC, who was adopted by the Valerian Messalla family. This theory is supported by the fact that Valeria's father had a biological sister named Claudia Pulchra, who was born before the adoption of Gaius Claudius. According to the second version, Mark Valerius was the son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus, a consul in 3 BC and 3 AD, who was the son of the famous politician and orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, a consul in 31 BC.
Early Life

Little is known about Messalina's childhood. However, in her youth, she was very popular and influential at Caligula's court. Her uncle, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, was the brother-in-law of the Emperor, being married to his sister, Julia Agrippina. It is likely that the wild parties at Caligula's court shaped her character, although ancient authors claim that Messalina began her debauched life at the age of 13. In 38 AD, Caligula married her off to his uncle Claudius. This marriage was probably a means of uniting the two branches of the Julio-Claudian dynasty - the Claudians and the Domitians Ahenobarbi.
Scandalous Reputation

Messalina's name has become synonymous with describing promiscuous and sexually obsessed women, thanks to ancient historians. Her behavior is mainly described as offensive and shameful, portraying her as a cruel, greedy, and foolish nymphomaniac. Tacitus and Suetonius mention her most frequently in their works. They claim that Messalina either owned one of Rome's brothels under the fake name Lysicrates or worked as a prostitute there to satisfy her own lust.
They also describe how Messalina once had a competition with the famous Roman prostitute Scylla to see who could service more men. Starting in the evening, Scylla stopped in the morning after servicing 25 men. However, Messalina continued until she had serviced 50 clients. Rome was no stranger to lascivious women, and such behavior did not shock anyone at that time, but Messalina's insatiable sexual appetite astonished even the most jaded members of Roman society. It particularly outraged the common people that Messalina, who lost her virginity at the age of thirteen, flaunted her promiscuity, taking immense pride in it. All of the above happened not only during Caligula's reign but also later, when Claudius became the emperor. Around 40 AD, Messalina gave birth to their daughter Claudia Octavia, and in 41 AD, their son and heir, whom Claudius named Britannicus in honor of his planned campaign in Britain.
Influence and Power

Historians unanimously agree in the biographies of Messalina: she did not miss any handsome man. And for a long time, she managed to escape any consequences. Claudius vehemently condemned and exposed the debauchery of the nobility at court, but he was unaware of what was happening at home. His advisors were afraid to open his eyes, fearing the wrath of the cunning woman. Although Claudius ruled the Roman Empire, Messalina ruled as the true emperor. For instance, when she fell in love with the first among Roman actors, Mnester, the handsome actor tried to avoid the honor of being loved by the empress. Valeria complained to Claudius that some actor dared to disobey her will, not specifying who exactly. The emperor summoned Mnester and ordered him to fulfill all the wishes of the empress. The young man had no choice but to obey the emperor's command and take his place in the marital bed.
Messalina had full control over the emperor. Seeing this, the Roman Senate recognized her as a co-ruler. Games and statues were dedicated to her in honor of her birthday. The Senate even planned to declare her Augusta, but Claudius forbade it.
Since Claudius was much older than her and not in the best health, Messalina focused on ensuring the transfer of power to her son Britannicus after Claudius's death. She always tried to present herself as the second most important person in the state. Even at Claudius's triumph in 43 AD, she rode immediately after his chariot, and only then did the generals follow her. This position allowed her to become the nominal ruler if Claudius were to die before her son reached adulthood.
Enemies and Downfall

It is worth noting that among the Roman elite, there were not only opponents but also allies of Messalina. One of them was Lucius Vitellius, the consul in 34 AD, the governor of Syria as proconsul in 35 AD, and the censor in 48 AD, and the father of the future emperor Vitellius. In return for his support, Messalina allowed him to take care of her shoes. To show his loyalty, he wore one of Messalina's slippers on his chest, under his toga, and periodically pulled it out, publicly showering it with kisses.
With the help of her allies, Messalina either removed from Rome or killed anyone who she believed could stand in her way. Among her enemies were almost all members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, who themselves or whose children could claim the position of emperor: Julia Livilla, Julia Livilla Minor, Gaius Asinius Pollio, a consul in 23 AD and the son of Vipsania Agrippina and Gaius Asinius Gallus, Poppaea Sabina Major, the daughter of the Roman consul and triumphator of Tiberius, Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, a consul in 35 and 46 AD since he was the brother-in-law of one of Caligula's wives, Lollia Paulina, and theoretically, he could claim power. Seneca was also expelled from Rome.
Such policies could not help but form a party of dissatisfied individuals. In the mid-40s AD, these people rallied around the Emperor's niece, Julia Agrippina. Using the Emperor's love for her, Agrippina managed to withstand Messalina's plots against her and her son, the underage Nero, and openly insist on punishing Agrippina.
In 47 AD, one of Claudius's freedmen, the treasurer of the empire, Marcus Antonius Pallas, became Agrippina's lover. Being opponents of Messalina, they devised plans to transfer power not to Britannicus, but to Nero.
However, a conspiracy became unnecessary when Messalina made her only mistake in her quest for power.
In 48 AD, desiring complete control, Messalina planned to make her lover Gaius Silius the emperor. This was a response to the strengthening positions of Agrippina and Nero since they began to receive support from influential Romans. At the Terentinian Games in 47 AD, during a performance depicting the siege of Troy, Messalina and Britannicus received much less attention from the crowd than Agrippina and Nero, who were also present. Messalina saw this as the first sign of her declining authority.
In early 48 AD, she forced her lover Gaius Silius to divorce his wife Junia Silana. When Claudius left for Ostia, Messalina, still officially married to the emperor, took the first step in her planned conspiracy - she publicly concluded a marriage contract and married Silius in the presence of witnesses.
One of Claudius's influential freedmen, Tiberius Claudius Narcissus, who held the position of the head of correspondence, informed the emperor about this. Claudius, being a soft and malleable person, hesitated in making a decision, and Narcissus himself, on behalf of the emperor, ordered the Praetorians to arrest Messalina and Silius.
Messalina was captured in Ostia, where she had gone to see Claudius. However, by the time the soldiers arrived, the emperor had already left the city. They brought Messalina back to Rome and placed her in the Gardens of Lucullus under the supervision of her mother, Domitia Lepida.
Domitia never approved of Messalina's lifestyle, but she did not refuse to be with her daughter in her final moments. Together, they even prepared a plea for clemency to Claudius, although it had no effect. Messalina was shattered and cried constantly, finally realizing the predicament she had put herself in.
There were three witnesses to Messalina's death - an imperial messenger, one of Claudius's freedmen, and her mother. When the imperial legate and the freedman appeared, Lepida told her daughter, "Your life is over. All that is left is to end it with dignity."
Messalina was offered the option to take her own life, but she could not bring herself to do it. The legate then stabbed her with a dagger. The freedman, who was called as a witness, insulted her throughout the ordeal. Messalina's body was left with her mother.
Claudius did not react to the news of his wife's death. When he was informed of it, he was having dinner. The only response was his request for more wine. A few days after her death, the Senate condemned her name to oblivion (Damnatio memoriae).
The fate of Messalina's children was also tragic. On January 1, 49 AD, Claudius married Agrippina. Nero was recognized as his heir. Claudius's daughter Claudia Octavia became his first wife, but she was executed in exile in 62 AD. Britannicus died earlier. He was poisoned by Nero in 55 AD due to intrigues by Agrippina.