Calvisia Domitia Lucilla (also known as Domitia Lucilla Minor and Domitia Calvilla, ), was a noble Roman woman who lived in the 2nd century. She is best known as the mother of the Roman Emperor

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoicism, Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors ...

Descent

Lucilla was the daughter of Domitia Lucilla Maior (''Maior'' is Latin for ''the Elder'') and the patrician Publius Calvisius Tullus Ruso. Her biological maternal grandfather was Gnaeus Domitius Lucanus, adoptive maternal grandfather was Gnaeus Domitius Tullus and maternal step-grandfather was Lucius Catilius Severus. Lucilla's father served as consul in 109 and the date of his second consulship is unknown. Lucilla through her mother had inherited a great fortune, which included a tile and brick factory near

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, close to the river

Tiber The Tiber ( ; ; ) is the List of rivers of Italy, third-longest river in Italy and the longest in Central Italy, rising in the Apennine Mountains in Emilia-Romagna and flowing through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, where it is joined by the R ...

. The factory provided bricks to some of Rome's most famous monuments including the

Colosseum The Colosseum ( ; , ultimately from Ancient Greek word "kolossos" meaning a large statue or giant) is an Ellipse, elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphi ...

, Pantheon and the Market of Trajan, and exported bricks to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

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and all over the Mediterranean. The factory, or part of it, has been excavated at Bomarzo, 40 miles north of Rome.

Marriage

Lucilla married Marcus Annius Verus, a

praetor ''Praetor'' ( , ), also ''pretor'', was the title granted by the government of ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected ''magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to disch ...

, who came from a wealthy senatorial family. Verus' sister Faustina the Elder was a Roman Empress and married the Roman Emperor

Antoninus Pius Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius (; ; 19 September 86 – 7 March 161) was Roman emperor from AD 138 to 161. He was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors from the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. Born into a senatorial family, Antoninus held var ...

. Verus was a nephew to Roman Empress Vibia Sabina and his maternal grandmother was Salonia Matidia (niece of Roman Emperor

Trajan Trajan ( ; born Marcus Ulpius Traianus, 18 September 53) was a Roman emperor from AD 98 to 117, remembered as the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was a philanthropic ruler and a successful soldier ...

). With Verus, she had two children, a son, the future Roman Emperor

(26 April 121) and a daughter Annia Cornificia Faustina (122/123 – between 152 and 158).

Widowhood

In 124, her husband died. Her children were raised by herself, and they were adopted by her father-in-law. Marcus Aurelius would later inherit the tile and brick factory. In Lucilla's household, the future Roman Emperor

Didius Julianus Marcus Didius Julianus (; 29 January 133 – 2 June 193) was Roman emperor from March to June 193, during the Year of the Five Emperors. Julianus had a promising political career, governing several provinces, including Dalmatia (Roman province) ...

was educated and through her support he was able to start his legal career. Lucilla was a lady of considerable wealth and influence. In his ''

Meditations ''Meditations'' () is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161–180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Composition Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the ''Meditations'' i ...

,'' Marcus Aurelius describes her as a 'pious and generous' person who lived a simple life (1.3n). She spent her final years living with her son in Rome.

References

External links

Roman Coinage of Domitia Lucilla

, under the heading for Marcus Aurelius {{DEFAULTSORT:Lucilla, Domitia Nerva–Antonine dynasty 2nd-century Roman women 2nd-century deaths Year of birth unknown Year of death uncertain Ancient businesswomen Calvisii Ancient Roman businesspeople Mothers of Roman emperors

Descent

Marriage

Widowhood

See also

References

External links