Aurelia ( – July 31, 54 BC) was the mother of the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...

general and statesman Julius Caesar.

Family

Aurelia was a daughter of Rutilia and Lucius Aurelius Cotta or his brother, Marcus Aurelius Cotta.'Aurelia' in William Smith, ed., '' Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'' (London: Taylor & Walton, 1844-1849)
Vol. 123
vol. 1 pp

Her father was

consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throug ...

in 119 BC and her paternal grandfather of the same name was consul in 144 BC. The family of the Aurelii Cottae was prominent during the

Republican era. Her mother Rutilia, was a member of the ''gens''

Rutilia ''Rutilia'' is a large genus of medium to large (>20mm) flies in the family Tachinidae native to Australia and the Oriental region, though notably absent from New Zealand.O'Hara, J.E. 2011. World genera of the Tachinidae (Diptera) and their reg ...

. They were of consular rank.

Publius Rutilius Rufus Publius Rutilius Rufus (158 BCafter 78 BC) was a Roman statesman, soldier, orator and historian of the Rutilia ''gens'', as well as a great-uncle of Gaius Julius Caesar (through his sister Rutilia, Caesar's maternal grandmother). He achieved the ...

was her maternal uncle. Three of her brothers were consuls: Gaius Aurelius Cotta in 75 BC,

Marcus Aurelius Cotta Marcus Aurelius Cotta was a Roman politician and general who was consul in 74 BC. He was posted to Bithynia with a Roman fleet as part of the Third Mithridatic War. He was defeated by King Mithridates VI of Pontus. Rescued by his fellow consul ...

in 74 BC and Lucius Aurelius Cotta in 65 BC. Aurelia married a praetor

Gaius Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

. Her husband died 85 – 84 BC. Their children were: * Julia Major (? – ? BC), grandmother of

Lucius Pinarius Lucius Pinarius Scarpus (flourished 1st century BC) was a Roman who lived during the late Republic and the early Empire. He served as the Roman governor of Cyrene, Libya during the Final War of the Roman Republic. He was originally loyal to Mark Ant ...

and Quintus Pedius * Julia Minor (? – 51 BC), wife of Marcus Atius Balbus and grandmother of emperor

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...

(100 – 44 BC), the

Dictator perpetuo ''Dictator perpetuo'' ( English: "dictator in perpetuity"), also called ''dictator in perpetuum'', was the office held by Julius Caesar from between 26 January and 15 February during the year 44 BCE until his death on 15 March. By abandoning the ...

Character

The historian Tacitus considered her an ideal Roman matron and thought highly of her, because she offered her children the best opportunities of education.'' Dialogus de oratoribus'' section xxviii by Tacitus (published c. 102 CE), referenced in Plutarch described her as a woman of discretion.'

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

' in ''

Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans Plutarch's ''Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans'', commonly called ''Parallel Lives'' or ''Plutarch's Lives'', is a series of 48 biographies of famous men, arranged in pairs to illuminate their common moral virtues or failings, probably writt ...

'' by Plutarch (published c. 100-120 CE) translated by John Dryden (1683) Highly intelligent, independent and renowned for her beauty and common sense, Aurelia was held in high regard throughout Rome. Aurelia and her family were very influential in her son's upbringing and security. Her husband, the elder Gaius Caesar, was often away, so the task of raising their son fell mostly on Aurelia's shoulders. When the younger

was about 18, he was ordered by the then '' dictator'' of Rome, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, to divorce his young wife Cornelia Cinna, daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna who had supported Sulla's archenemy Marius. Young

firmly refused, and by so doing, put himself at great risk from Sulla. Aurelia became involved in the petition to save her son, defending him along with her brother

Gaius Cotta Gaius Aurelius Cotta (124–73 BC) was a Roman statesman, orator, priest, and Academic Skeptic; he is not to be confused with Gaius Aurelius Cotta who was twice Consul in the 3rd century BC. Life Born in 124 BC, he was the uncle to Julius Caesar ...

. After Cornelia's death in childbirth, Aurelia raised her young granddaughter

Julia Julia is usually a feminine given name. It is a Latinate feminine form of the name Julio and Julius. (For further details on etymology, see the Wiktionary entry "Julius".) The given name ''Julia'' had been in use throughout Late Antiquity (e. ...

in her stead and presided as mistress over her son's households. Caesar subsequently married Pompeia Sulla, granddaughter of Sulla. In 62 BC, during the

Bona Dea Bona Dea (; 'Good Goddess') was a goddess in ancient Roman religion. She was associated with chastity and fertility in Roman women, healing, and the protection of the state and people of Rome. According to Roman literary sources, she was brought ...

festival held at Caesar's house, one of Aurelia's maids discovered that

Publius Clodius Publius Clodius Pulcher (93–52 BC) was a populist Roman politician and street agitator during the time of the First Triumvirate. One of the most colourful personalities of his era, Clodius was descended from the aristocratic Claudia gens, one ...

had infiltrated the house while disguising as a woman, in order to start or continue an affair with her second daughter-in-law Pompeia. The two may have had certain improper relations before, but was subdued by Aurelia's close watch upon the women's residence.

Clodius Clodius is an alternate form of the Roman '' nomen'' Claudius, a patrician ''gens'' that was traditionally regarded as Sabine in origin. The alternation of ''o'' and ''au'' is characteristic of the Sabine dialect. The feminine form is Clodia. R ...

was later charged with the crime of sacrilege by Lucius Lentulus since his trespass caused the interruption of the sacrifice. Aurelia later appeared as a witness during the trial, along with her daughter Julia, testifying that she had ordered

to leave. Caesar divorced Pompeia Sulla over this incident without any real proof she had committed adultury or fornication with Clodius. Caesar's reason for the divorce was that "Caesar's wife, like all Caesar's family, must be beyond suspicion".

References

{{Julius Caesar, state=collapsed 2nd-century BC births 54 BC deaths 2nd-century BC Roman women 1st-century BC Roman women 1st-century BC Romans Aurelii Cottae Family of Julius Caesar

Family

Character

See also

References