Valeria Messalina, known as Messalina, is a provocative figure in Roman history. She's notorious for her strong sexual appetites and murderous schemes. Messalina is mother of two, her ill-fated son Britannicus and daughter Octavia, later wife of Nero.
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Messalina is already wed to Claudius when he becomes Emperor in 41 AD. Claudius is the first Roman Emperor born outside Italy. As a child Claudius is ungainly, sickly and has a stammer, limp and hearing defect.
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He's not expected to live long, let alone take the throne of Imperial Rome. In a time of schemes, conspiracies and machinations, his family spurns him due to his ill health. He's not considered for public office. This may have saved his life.
During the reigns of Emperors Tiberius and Caligula, when imperial purges wipe out most of his family lineage, Claudius is not considered a threat. He's unlucky in love, twice married and divorced before wedding Valeria Messalina.
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His first wife flaunts her love affairs and plots murder. Claudius divorces her. His second torments him with psychological abuse, and is also divorced by Claudius. Perhaps hoping for better luck, he marries Valeria Messalina in 38 AD.
Messalina is great-granddaughter of Mark Antony. She's niece of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, called Domitius, who is the first husband of Agrippina the Younger and father of Nero. Details of her life prior to marriage with Claudius are vague.
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In 41 AD, after the assassination of Caligula, Claudius is the only remaining adult male of his family. He's named Emperor by the Praetorian Guard, a great relief to Claudius, who initially thinks they've come to murder him.
Agrippina and Livilla are recalled from exile on Ponza, sent by their brother Caligula after a failed conspiracy known as The Plot of Three Daggers. Their scheme was to put Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, widower of their sister Drusilla, on the throne. Lepidus was executed.
A busy year is 41 AD. Soon after their return, Messalina has Julia Livilla exiled again for alleged adultery with Seneca the Younger. Claudius orders the execution of Julia Livilla. Seneca is exiled to the island of Corsica, later recalled to tutor Lucius/Nero.
Messalina is Empress of Rome 41-48 AD. She's portrayed as a cruel, domineering nymphomaniac or sex addict who makes no secret of her affairs. Many of her sexual exploits are based on satirical writings interpreted by later readers as actual history.
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She does have affairs, and without question enjoys both sex and vengeance. She ruthlessly destroys those who stand in her way. When it comes to women, Emperor Claudius continues his slippery slide of bad luck.
"Youth without restraint, debauchery without bottom, death without hope ... debauchery leading to death ... It is by raising this subject of history to the height of allegory and symbol that I have made this subject a most noble satanic poem" - Gustav Moreau
Messalina has no qualms about eliminating rivals in politics or romance. One such woman is Poppaea the Elder. While Messalina is described as having "bewitching eyes", Poppaea is renowned for her beauty.
Poppaea the Elder is fierce competition for the affections of famous pantomime actor Mnester. Messalina has a bronze statue made of him, and wants a sexual affair but he rejects her offer. He comes to Poppaea's bed willingly.
Humiliated and angry, in a brazen move Messalina complains to Claudius. Mnester becomes her lover after she convinces Claudius to order Mnester to fulfill her every wish.
Messalina uses her position as Empress to dispose of her perceived enemies and those in line for the throne. She continues her attacks the family of Emperor Claudius, most often the women, and others.
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In 42 AD, Messalina orchestrates the demise of her mother's husband, Senator Appius Silanus. Rumor says Messalina wants him herself. It's possible. Also, she's close to her mother and resents his intrusion. And, as Senator he's a dangerous political rival.
Messalina and freedman Narcissus tell Claudius they had identical dreams during the night, predicting Silanus will murder Claudius. The Imperial Romans are serious about divination, including astrology, astragalomancy and dreams.
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When Silanus arrives later in the morning, being summoned by Messalina or Narcissus, Claudius fears the dreams have come true. He has Silanus executed.
In 43 AD Messalina targets Julia Livia, another of Claudius' nieces, granddaughter of past Emperor Tiberius. Julia's son Rubellius Plautus is a potential competitor for the throne. Messalina has Julia accused of immorality and incest and convinces Claudius execute her.
Messalina is quick to realize the boy Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, later Nero, is a rival to her own son Brittanicus, three years younger. Messalina sends assassins to strangle Lucius while he sleeps.
When a snake slithers from his bed the assassins see it as a bad omen and flee in fear. It turns out to be the shed skin of a snake. Agrippina the Younger has it made into a bracelet for her son, symbolizing luck and protection.
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In 47 AD, Messalina wants to acquire the exotic Gardens of Lucullus, owned by the Senator Decimus Valerius Asiaticus. According to rumor he's in a torrid affair with Poppaea the Elder. Messalina jumps at the chance to acquire the gardens and get rid of Poppaea.
When accused, Decimus Valerius Asiaticus has his funeral pyre built to his approval, and commits suicide by slashing his wrists. Through subordinates Messalina torments and threatens Poppaea the Elder with prison, until Poppaea also commits suicide.
The same year, Messalina has Marcus Vinicius poisoned, according to rumor because he refuses to sleep with her. She also arranges the execution of one of Claudius' freedmen, Polybius. This turns the other freedmen from allies to enemies.
In the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares) of 48 AD, Agrippina's son Lucius gets more applause than Messalina's own Britannicus. According to Tacitus, Messalina's obsession with her new lover, Senator Gaius Silius, keeps her from tormenting Agrippina.
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Also In 48 AD, Claudius travels to Ostia to view the new harbor he's constructing. Freedman Narcissus tells him Messalina has married Gaius Silius. They have an extravagant wedding banquet at Claudius' expense.
The exact reason for the wedding is unknown. Silius divorced his wife the previous year, anticipating a union with Messalina. It may be part of a plot to overthrow Claudius and establish Silius as Emperor with Silius adopting Messalina's son Britannicus.
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Claudius hastens back to Rome. In the home of Silius he finds many of his family heirlooms, given to Silius by Messalina. Her alienation of the freedmen is her undoing, as they compile a list of her offenses, shouted at her when she tries to gain access to her husband.
Hoping it's all a misunderstanding, Claudius asks Narcissus to arrange a private interview with Messalina for the next morning. Knowing Messalina will persuade Claudius of her innocence to the charges, Narcissus takes action.
Pretending to act on the orders of Claudius, he sends the Praetorian Guard to execute her. Messalina is in the Gardens of Lucullus seeking protection from her mother. The Guard gives her the honorable option of taking her own life.
When she lacks courage for suicide, a Guardsman kills her with his sword. Learning of her death, Claudius quietly asks for another chalice of wine. The Senate orders a damnatio memoriae. Her name is stricken from records and inscriptions, and her statues destroyed.
Her son Britannicus never becomes Emperor. He dies in convulsions at age 14, at a banquet marking his transition to manhood. Nero, also at the banquet, claims his death is due to epilepsy. Her daughter Octavia marries Nero. She's executed by his order at age 22.
Messalina's reputation for nymphomania prevails after death. She's a favorite subject of artists through the ages. Poet Juvenal, in the 2nd century AD, satirizes her as leaving the palace at night to work in squalid brothels with such vigor she keeps going until dawn.
In the same context Juvenal also coins the phrase meretrix augusta or imperial whore. His satirical works are written about a hundred years after the demise of Messalina. Her plots, conspiracies and murders never receive the amount of attention as does her sexuality.