Calvia Crispinilla

Last updated
Calvia Crispinilla
DiedAfter 70
Unknown
Nationality Roman Empire
Occupation Courtier
Title"Mistress of the Imperial wardrobe"
Spouse Sextus Traulus Montanus

Calvia Crispinilla (fl. c. 70) was a Roman Imperial courtier.

Contents

Life

Calvia Crispinilla was possibly of African origins. [1] She was a prominent courtier at the court of Emperor Nero. A noblewoman of unknown lineage, she was considered to have great power and influence, [2] having accompanied Nero and his third wife Statilia Messalina to Greece in 66. [1] She was seen as greedy and rapacious by her contemporaries. Tacitus called Calvia Crispinilla a "tutor in vice" (magistrate libidinum) of Nero. [1] [3] When Nero married the castrated slave Sporus [2] in 67, Calvia was made the "mistress of wardrobe" (a position akin to that of a handmaiden or lady-in-waiting) of Sporus (epitropeia ten peri estheta). [3]

By 68–69, after changing her political associations, Crispinilla was said to have been the instigator of the unsuccessful revolt of Lucius Clodius Macer in Africa. She was subsequently credited with being behind the defection of Galba from Nero. [1] [2]

After Nero's death, Calvia Crispinilla married a former consul. Her first husband might have been the Sextus Traulus Montanus whom Claudius executed in AD 48, as a number of ceramic wares have been found combining the names of Traulus and Crispinilla. During Otho's brief period as emperor there was a public outcry for her execution, but Otho seems to have protected her, and she survived unscathed. [1]

... and the successive regimes of Galba, Otho and Vitellius brought her no harm. In after days she enjoyed great influence as a wealthy woman who had no heirs - for, whether times are good or bad, such qualities retain their power.

Tacitus

Calvia Crispinilla was also active within commerce, and enjoyed success with her investments in the lucrative wine trade. [4]

Historical evidence

Several olive oil amphorae have been recovered from Poetovio in the Adriatic region, bearing stamps with her name or Calvia and Traulus Montanus together. Two of her slaves, Camulus and Quietus, are attested by a surviving inscription near Tarentum. [1]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galba</span> 6th Roman emperor from AD 68 to 69

Galba was the sixth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 68 to 69. After his adoption by his stepmother, and before becoming emperor, he was known as Livius Ocella Sulpicius Galba. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne following Emperor Nero's suicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nero</span> 5th Roman emperor from AD 54 to 68

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his death in AD 68. He was adopted by the Roman emperor Claudius at the age of 13 and succeeded him on the throne. Nero was popular with the members of his Praetorian Guard and lower-class commoners in Rome and its provinces, but he was deeply resented by the Roman aristocracy. Most contemporary sources describe him as tyrannical, self-indulgent, and debauched. After being declared a public enemy by the Roman Senate, he committed suicide at age 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otho</span> 7th Roman emperor in 69 AD

Marcus Otho was the seventh Roman emperor, ruling for three months from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AD 69</span> Calendar year

AD 69 (LXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the consulship of Galba and Vinius. The denomination AD 69 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">60s</span> Seventh decade of the first century AD

The 60s decade ran from January 1, AD 60, to December 31, AD 69.

Ofonius Tigellinus (c. 10 – 69) was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, from 62 until 68, during the reign of emperor Nero. Tigellinus gained imperial favour through his acquaintance with Nero's mother Agrippina the Younger, and was appointed prefect upon the death of his predecessor Sextus Afranius Burrus, a position Tigellinus held first with Faenius Rufus and then Nymphidius Sabinus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Year of the Four Emperors</span> Battles for succession to rule the Roman Empire (AD 69)

The Year of the Four Emperors, AD 69, was the first civil war of the Roman Empire, during which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. It is considered an important interval, marking the transition from the Julio-Claudians, the first imperial dynasty, to the Flavian dynasty. The period witnessed several rebellions and claimants, with shifting allegiances and widespread turmoil in Rome and the provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poppaea Sabina</span> Second wife of Emperor Nero

Poppaea Sabina, also known as Ollia, was a Roman empress as the second wife of the Emperor Nero. She had also been wife to the future emperor Otho. The historians of antiquity describe her as a beautiful woman who used intrigues to become empress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statilia Messalina</span> Third wife to Roman emperor Nero

Statilia Messalina was a Roman patrician woman, a Roman Empress and third wife to Roman Emperor Nero.

<i>Histories</i> (Tacitus) Tacitus history of Rome from Nero to Domitian

Histories is a Roman historical chronicle by Tacitus. Written c. 100–110, its complete form covered c. 69–96, a period which includes the Year of Four Emperors following the downfall of Nero, as well as the period between the rise of the Flavian dynasty under Vespasian and the death of Domitian. However, the surviving portion of the work only reaches the year 70 and the very beginning of the reign of Vespasian.

Titus Vinius was a Roman general and one of the most powerful men in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Galba.

Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus (38–69) was a Roman nobleman who lived in the 1st century. His adoption by the Roman emperor Galba on 10 January 69 AD precipitated their joint murder by Otho, who had expected to be adopted instead. Otho then became the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

Sporus was a young slave boy whom the Roman Emperor Nero favored, had castrated, and married. Sporus was likely an epithet given to him when his abuse started considering it means "seed", referring to the fact that he could not produce children.

After the emperor Nero committed suicide near the villa of his freedman Phaon in June of 68 AD, various Nero impostors appeared between the autumn of 69 AD and the reign of the emperor Domitian. Most scholars set the number of Nero impostors to two or three, although St. Augustine wrote of the popularity of the belief that Nero would return in his day, known as the Nero Redivivus legend. In addition to the three documented Pseudo-Neros, Suetonius refers to imperial edicts forged in the dead Nero's name that encouraged his followers and promised his imminent return to avenge himself on his enemies.

Pythagoras was a freedman of the Roman emperor Nero, whom he married in a public ceremony in which the emperor took the role of bride.

Aulus Ducenius Geminus was a Roman senator active in the first century AD. Geminus is best known as Galba's appointment as Urban prefect of Rome during the Year of Four Emperors.

Helius was a prominent freedman in the time of ancient Roman Emperor Nero. He and Patrobius exercised great and pernicious power and influence under Nero. Helius was the de facto ruler of Rome in the absence of Nero.

The gens Traula, also found as Traulia or Traullia, was an obscure plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome. Only one member of this gens seems to be mentioned by Roman writers: Sextus Traulus Montanus, whom Claudius put to death in AD 48. A few others are known from inscriptions.

Icelus Martianus was a freedman of and adviser to the Roman Emperor Galba. Icelus had been imprisoned and released during the revolt against Nero and was present at Nero's suicide where he granted Nero's request that his body would be buried intact. When Icelus brought news of Nero's death to Galba, he showered him with kisses; Suetonius suggests that Icelus was a homosexual lover of Galba. Icelus was given the name Martianus and elevated to the rank of knight by Galba. This was contrary to the Tiberian law which stipulated that no freedman could be elevated to equestrian rank without first having three previous generations of free birth. Icelus rivalled Titus Vinius, and Cornelius Laco for influence over Galba who executed numerous Roman citizens without trial. Icelus along with Laco opposed the adoption of Otho by Galba. After Galba was deposed, Icelus was publicly executed by Otho who accused Icelus of theft of public funds.

Arria was a woman in ancient Rome of a prestigious family notable in political affairs -- though often on the bad side of the emperor -- throughout the first century CE.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Calvia Crispinilla". Women of History. A Bit of History. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Lightman, Marjorie; Lightman, Benjamin (2000). A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women. Infobase Publishing. p. 65. ISBN   978-0-8160-6710-7.
  3. 1 2 Champlin, 2005, p.146
  4. PURCELL N. (1985), Wine and Wealth in Ancient Italy, Journal of Roman Studies 75, 1-19