Livilla

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Livilla (* around 13 BC; † 31 AD ), also called Livia Julia or Julia Livilla the Elder , was the only daughter of the elder Drusus and the younger Antonia . She played a central role in the Julio-Claudian dynasty as she was a sought-after bride for potential successors during the reign of Emperor Augustus and her uncle Tiberius .

Livilla was the sister of Germanicus and Claudius , daughter-in-law of Agrippa and Tiberius, mother-in-law and aunt of Nero Caesar , aunt Caligulas and Drusus Caesar , Agrippina the younger and Britannicus .

She was married twice, for the first time since 1 BC. With Gaius Caesar , the grandson, adopted son and presumptive successor of Augustus. When her husband died in the year 4, Livilla married her cousin Drusus , the son of Tiberius. Their daughter Livia Julia (the younger) was born shortly after their second wedding.

After 15 years of marriage, in 19, she had children again, the twins Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus Gemellus (only Tiberius survived). Since she had been the lover of the Praetorian Prefect Sejan for some time , it is possible that he was the father of the twins. A few years after the two were born, Sejan managed to convince Livilla to help him poison her husband Drusus. The murder was so carefully carried out that Drusus' death in 23 seemed natural and did not arouse suspicion. Sejan's attempt to marry Livilla, which he undertook a few years later (probably to become a member of the imperial family), was rejected by Tiberius.

In 31 Tiberius received evidence from his sister-in-law Antonia that Sejan was planning to overthrow him. Tiberius had him captured and executed. Sejanus' outcast wife Apicata confessed shortly before her suicide that she knew about the murder of Drusus and Livilla's involvement, which was then also executed in the same year.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Livilla
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Livia; Livia Julia; Julia Livilla the Elder
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Daughter of Drusus and Antonia the Younger
DATE OF BIRTH around 13 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 31