Back in Time Today
Forget “Game of Thrones”—the real drama went down in ancient Rome. Behind every toga and triumph was a woman living a life so intense, chaotic, or cunning that today’s screenwriters wouldn’t dare make it up. These 11 Roman women didn’t just defy the odds—they rewrote the rules.
1. Agrippina the Younger
Agrippina the Younger, a woman of unyielding ambition, orchestrated her son Nero’s ascension to the throne with calculated precision. Her life was a tangle of intrigue and power plays. Legend tells us she demanded her womb be struck first when Nero ordered her death.
2. Livia Drusilla
Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus, was a master strategist who allegedly removed obstacles from her husband’s path to power. Her influence spanned decades, with whispers of her poisoning Augustus himself to ensure her son Tiberius’ reign. A true puppet master.
3. Fulvia
Fulvia, the warrior wife, broke the norms by leading Roman legions and minting her own coins. Her fearless spirit drove her to wage a civil war against Octavian after Marc Antony’s betrayal. A trailblazer in a male-dominated world.
4. Cornelia Africana
Cornelia Africana, mother of the Gracchi brothers, was a paragon of intellect and virtue. She famously turned down a king’s proposal, declaring her children her true jewels. An exemplar of Roman maternal pride.
5. Julia the Elder
Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus, was brilliant and beautiful, living a life filled with high-profile affairs. Her defiance of moral norms led to her exile by her own father, a tragic end to her spirited life.
6. Servilia
Servilia, mistress to Julius Caesar and mother to Brutus, was at the heart of Roman political drama. Whispers of Caesar being Brutus’s father added layers to her intrigue. Her life was a blend of personal and political complexities.
7. Pompeia Plotina
Pompeia Plotina, known for her philosophical leanings, used her influence to promote Stoic thought. Unlike others, she sought no personal power, standing as a beacon of peace amid political storms.
8. Messalina
Messalina, married to Emperor Claudius, was infamous for her scandalous reputation. Tales of her winning a public se*x contest are legendary, though perhaps exaggerated. Her ambitions led to a coup attempt, sealing her tragic fate.
9. Clodia
Clodia, a poetess with a wild lifestyle, inspired both admiration and scandal. Her fierce self-defense in court, when accused of poisoning, captivated audiences. A true femme fatale of Roman history.
10. Octavia Minor
Octavia Minor, sister to Augustus and wife to Marc Antony, epitomized grace under pressure. After Antony’s betrayal for Cleopatra, she maintained dignity, raising his children as her own. A model of stoic endurance.
11. Faustina the Younger
Faustina the Younger, wife to Marcus Aurelius, was enveloped in rumors of affairs and palace intrigue. Her beauty and mythos made her a figure of fascination, though many tales were likely exaggerated.