Cornelia Livia Orestina (her
cognomen
A ''cognomen'' (; plural ''cognomina''; from ''con-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became here ...
is sometimes given in the
diminutive
A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A ( abbreviated ) is a word-form ...
form Orestilla) was the second wife of the Roman
Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( ...
Caligula
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germani ...
in AD 37 or 38.
Biography
Background and name
Her name is given in ancient sources in several variants like "Livia Orestilla", "Livia Orestina", "Cornelia Orestilla" and "Cornelia Orestina".
has speculated that her mother may have been a
Livia
Livia Drusilla (30 January 59 BC – 28 September AD 29) was a Roman empress from 27 BC to AD 14 as the wife of Emperor Augustus Caesar. She was known as Julia Augusta after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14.
Livia was the ...
, and thus Orestilla chose to use the more imperial name "Livia" instead of "Cornelia" to identify herself, similar to
Livia Medullina. An inscription at the
Capitoline Museums records a Cornelia Lemnias who was a relative (likely sister) of a Cornelia Orestina, but it is not certain if this woman is the same as the empress.
Orestilla's father may have been
Publius Cornelius Scipio Orestinus. He was descended from a branch of the Scipiones who were adopted from the
Cornelii Lentuli
The gens Cornelia was one of the greatest patrician houses at ancient Rome. For more than seven hundred years, from the early decades of the Republic to the third century AD, the Cornelii produced more eminent statesmen and generals than any oth ...
, he was also possibly descended from the
Mucia gens
The gens Mucia was an ancient and noble patrician house at ancient Rome. The gens is first mentioned at the earliest period of the Republic, but in later times the family was known primarily by its plebeian branches.
Origin
The first of the Muci ...
and the rather obscure
Livii Ocellae. A relation to the Lentuli would help to explain why Orestilla was chosen to become the mother of Julian heirs.
Marriages
She was originally married to
Gaius Calpurnius Piso (who was later involved in a
conspiracy to overthrow the emperor Nero in AD 65).
However, Piso was persuaded or forced to annul the marriage so that Caligula could marry her. According to both
Dio and
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; c. AD 69 – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία Ï„á ...
, this occurred during Piso and Orestilla's wedding celebrations. Suetonius claims that Caligula issued a proclamation the next day that he had acquired a new wife in the tradition of
Romulus
Romulus () was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. Although many of these ...
and
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 Pr ...
, who had both stolen wives from other men. Orestilla was apparently an unwilling Empress, and remained loyal to her first husband.
On the next day Caligula divorced Orestilla; however, he also prohibited her from returning to her relationship with Piso .
Later both Orestilla and Piso were banished for
adultery
Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal ...
to a distant island. Piso returned to Rome, one year later, after Caligula's assassination.
See also
*
List of Roman women
*
Women in ancient Rome
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orestilla, Livia
1st-century Roman empresses
Cornelii
Wives of Caligula