Claudia Octavia was born sometime in late AD 39 to Emperor Claudius and his third wife, Valeria Messalina, who also happened to be his second cousin. Claudius and Messalina Billon Tetradrachm; 10.32 gm; 24.0 mm Alexandria, AD 45/46 Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡ, laureate head of Claudius, r.; LϚ (year 6) before Rev: ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ, Messalina standing l., holding children and ears of corn Refs: RCV 1869; SGI 495; RPC 5164; BMCG 75; SNG Cologne 88; Milne 106; Emmett 74. And yes, it's THE Messalina, the ultimate image of debauchery and promiscuity. Remember, Claudius was Germanicus' brother and Caligula was the son of Germanicus, so this made Claudia Octavia the cousin of Caligula. With genes like this, what could possibly go wrong? A couple of years later, Claudia Octavia's little brother, Brittanicus was born. All seemed well with the little imperial nuclear family until Messalina decided to re-marry but forgot to inform her husband first, and was therefore put to death. Since all three of his marriages turned out so well, Claudius decided to try his luck a fourth time, with his first cousin, Agrippina II, who already had a son, Nero, about the same age as Octavia and Britannicus. Claudius and Agrippina II Roman provincial Æ 12 Nummia; 9.30 gm; 25.0 mm Bosporos, under King Kotys I, AD 50-54 Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ ΚΑΙCΑΡΟC, laureate head of Claudius, right Rev: ΙΟΥΛΙΑΝ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑΝ CΕΒΑCΤΗΝ, head of Agrippina II, left, in loop ponytail; BAK before Refs: SGI 5438; RPC 1925; BMC 13.52,7; Anokhin Bosporus 348; SNG Copenhagen 31. So, in case you haven't been able to keep everything straight, this made Claudia Octavia the stepsister to Emperor Nero. And with a stepbrother like Nero, what could possibly go wrong? Like all girls of her standing, Octavia got engaged very young to a guy named Silanus, as her father was looking for political alliances. When the situation changed, the engagement between Octavia and Silanus was dissolved, pushing Silanus to commit suicide on the same day that Claudius married Agrippina II. A new marriage was arranged for Octavia, this time to Nero, in AD 53. Nero and Claudia Octavia Roman provincial billon tetradrachm, 11.1 g, 25.0 mm Egypt, Alexandria, AD 56-57 Obv: ΝΕΡ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥΤΟ, laureate head of Nero, right Rev: ΟΚΤΑΟΥΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ, bare-headed and draped bust of Octavia, right; L Γ before. Refs: RPC 5202; BMC 119; SGI 657; Cologne 122; Milne 133; Emmett 127 Nero and Claudia Octavia Roman provincial Æ 24.6 mm, 8.60 g Crete, Cnossus, AD 54-62 Obv: NERO CLAV CAES AVG IMP LVPINO VOLVMINIO II, bare head of Nero right, scepter over left shoulder Rev: NERO CLAV CAES AVG IMP ET OCTAVIA AVGVSTI, bare head of Nero, left, star above, facing draped bust of Octavia, right, crescent above Refs: SGI 655; RPC 1005-6; Svoronos 95, 217 var; Cohen 313, 1-2. Claudius died, possibly poisoned by Agrippina, Britannicus died, probably poisoned by Agrippina and/or Nero, and Nero ascended to the throne. Nero reportedly didn't particularly like being married to his stepsister, though she was described as "an aristocratic and virtuous wife." Agrippina managed to keep Nero under control for a while, and she insisted on him staying married to Octavia, to justify his claim to the imperial position. From the paternal side, Nero's family was not particularly illustrious, so the marriage to a Julio-Claudian was imperative. Putting the fun in dysfunctional family, Nero went on to murder his mom, Agrippina II. With mommy out of the way, Nero tried to strangle Octavia on several occasions and had a well-known affair with Poppaea Sabina. Yes, THAT Poppaea, the subject of opera... ... and gothic rock: But Nero's marriage to Octavia wasn't the only problem to stand in the way of the couple. Poppaea was married, too, to Otho, Nero's boyhood friend. But Nero forced Otho to divorce Poppaea and then sent him away to govern Lusitania. When Poppaea became pregnant, Nero divorced Octavia, claiming she was barren and married his mistress. Nero and Poppaea Sabina Roman provincial billon Tetradrachm; 23.1 mm, 11.55 g Egypt, Alexandria, AD 64/65 Obv: ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑV, radiate head of Nero, right Rev: ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, draped bust of Poppaea, right, LIA (year 11) before Refs: RCV 2002; SGI 664; RPC 5280; Köln 168; BMCG 124; Milne 223; Curtis 138; Cohen 315, 3; Emmett 128. The divorce caused a general outcry of sympathy, so the newly married couple tried to hide Octavia from the public, by having her exiled to the island of Pandateria (now Ventotene) on charges of adultery. Yes, his mistress was already pregnant with his child, but Octavia was the one charged with adultery. When Octavia complained, her friends were tortured. Unjust, right? The Romans thought so too, so the manifestations of sympathy for Octavia increased, and people demanded to have her back, thus forcing Nero's hand to use the ultimate solution: he had her killed in AD 62, when she was just 22 years old. There was a pathetic attempt to make it look like a suicide, by cutting her veins in a hot bath, but it was kind of hard to buy the suicide version, considering that Octavia's head was subsequently cut off and sent to Rome, as a gift for Poppaea. I can’t help but wonder what she did with the head. Nero gave Poppaea the title of Augusta after their daughter, Claudia Neronis was born at Antium, probably early in AD 63. Their daughter died only four months later. Nero dedicated a temple to the little girl. But things weren't always rosy between Poppaea and Nero, either. The couple fought bitterly over many things, including the time he spent at the races away from her. Things came to a head in AD 65, when heavily pregnant, Poppaea began to scream at Nero. A knock-down drag-out fight occurred. He apparently kicked her in the stomach, causing her to have a late miscarriage which resulted in her death. Nero deified Poppaea after her death and dedicated temples to Diva Poppaea and to Claudia Neronis: Diva Poppaea and Claudia Neronis Roman provincial Æ 18.7 mm, 5.34 g Syria, Caesarea Panias, AD 65 Obv: DIVA POPPAEA AVG, distyle temple of Diva Poppaea, female figure within Rev: DIVA CLAVD NER F, round hexastyle temple of Diva Claudia, female figure within Refs: RPC 4846; Hendin 578; RCV 2058; Vagi 746 It is said that years later Nero was plagued with nightmares about his mother and Octavia. I'm not surprised.
I enjoyed this history lesson! You have some fine looking Empresses from the era of original sin there - I'm a bit jealous
Super write up, and a nice collection of coins @Roman Collector ! Well done... I only have some of your story! MESSALINA RProv Valeria Messalina m-Claudius 41-54 CE Alexandria BI Tet yr 42-43 13.1g 25mm RPC I 5131 OCTAVIA RImp Octavia Augusta AE 27 7.6g 54-62 CE m Nero Thrace Perinthus Hera Samos RPC 1755 POPPEA RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64 CE Milne 217 RPC 5275
Some great coins and history to go with it, congrats on a fantastic collection. I really enjoy your write ups.
You know, people who complain about the quality of leadership in our country probably haven't read up on people like Nero. Regardless of which party gets your blood boiling, a little poking around into the lives of some of the Roman emperors can help add a little perspective to our current political angst.
