Early Life and Marriage to Claudius
Valeria Messalina was born around 17 AD, into the prominent and aristocratic Valeria family. Her father, Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus, was a notable senator, and her mother, named possibly Domitia Lepida the Younger, was a woman of considerable political influence. Messalina's early life is largely unrecorded, but it is believed that she was well-connected in the Roman aristocracy, which played a significant role in her rise to power.
Messalina married Emperor Claudius in 38 AD, possibly arranged to strengthen her family's position within the imperial court. Claudius, who was then a relatively unremarkable ruler, was deeply in love with Messalina and entrusted her with substantial authority in the empire. Her marriage to Claudius would grant her an immense amount of influence, as she effectively served as the empress consort and held sway over many of the empire’s political decisions.
Tacitus' Depiction of Messalina
The Roman historian Tacitus, writing some decades after the events of Messalina’s life, painted a vivid picture of her character. Tacitus is known for his critical and often scathing approach to his subjects, and his account of Messalina is no exception. He presents her as a woman of boundless ambition, who used her beauty and charm to manipulate and control those around her, including her husband, Emperor Claudius.
Tacitus, in his Annals, describes Messalina’s sexual promiscuity and her willingness to use her allure for political gain. He recounts several incidents where Messalina conducted secretive and illicit affairs with powerful men of the court. Her most famous affair was with Gaius Silius, a prominent senator, whom she reportedly married in a secret ceremony while Claudius was away. This act of adultery was not only an insult to Claudius but also a blatant challenge to his rule. Tacitus suggests that Messalina's actions were driven by a combination of lust and ambition, with a desire for more power and control.
Messalina's affair with Silius was perhaps the most dramatic and consequential of her transgressions. The affair was so blatant that it could not remain hidden for long, and it ultimately led to her downfall. Claudius, despite his deep affection for her, was eventually convinced by his advisors to act decisively. When Messalina and Silius were discovered, Claudius ordered their execution. Messalina was killed by the order of her husband in 48 AD. shutdown123