Julia Flavia
FLAVIA IVLIA
Marble bust of Julia Flavia
Known fordaughter of Roman emperor Titus
SpouseTitus Flavius Sabinus
Parents
FamilyFlavian dynasty
Roman imperial dynasties
Flavian dynasty
Chronology
69–79 AD
79–81 AD
81–96 AD
Family
Preceded by
Year of
the Four Emperors		 Followed by
Nerva–Antonine dynasty
Julia Flavia hairstyle, Terracotta made in Smyrna, c. 90 - Louvre

Julia Flavia (c. 63[a] – 91) or Flavia Julia,[3] nicknamed Julia Titi, was the daughter of Roman Emperor Titus and his first wife Arrecina Tertulla.[4][5]

Biography

Early life

Julia was born in Rome to Titus and Arrecina Tertulla, she was named for Tertulla's mother Julia Ursa. Her mother was either divorced or died when Julia was an infant. Her father later remarried to Marcia Furnilla with whom he had another daughter who is presumed to have died young.[6] In 65, after the failure of the Pisonian conspiracy, the family of Furnilla was disfavored by Nero. Julia's father, Titus concluded that he did not want to be connected with any potential plotters and ended his marriage to Julia's step-mother. Julia was likely raised by her maternal grandmother[7][8] and the wet nurse Phyllis (who had already reared Julia's uncle Domitian as a child).[6]

Marriage

When growing up, Titus offered her in marriage to his brother Domitian, but he refused because of his infatuation with Domitia Longina. Later she married her second paternal cousin Titus Flavius Sabinus, brother to consul Titus Flavius Clemens, who married her first cousin Flavia Domitilla.[9]

Later life

After the death of her husband Julia lived in the palace with her uncle and his wife Domitia Longina.

Ancient historians report stories that Julia was seduced by her uncle and died having an abortion forced upon her by him, for example Dio claimed that he "lived with [her] as husband with wife, making little effort at concealment. Then upon the demands of the people he became reconciled with Domitia, but continued his relations with Julia nonetheless."[10] and Juvenal stated "such a man was that adulterer [i.e. Domitian] who, after lately defiling himself by a union of the tragic style, revived the stern laws that were to be a terror to all men – ay, even to Mars and Venus – just as Julia was relieving her fertile womb and giving birth to abortions that displayed the likeness of her uncle."[11] but modern historians generally regard this as slander against the emperor and the stories were likely invented after his assassination.[12] Julia was deified after her death at age 37 and Martial wrote a poem where in he praised her and wished for her to become the spiritual guardian of the (hoped for) future son of Domitian and Domitia whom he wished to be named "Julius" in her honor.[9] Following the downfall of her uncle Domitian, their wet nurse Phyllis mixed his ashes with those of Julia to ensure that his remains would not be thrown away.[13]

Flavian family tree

Notes

  1. ^ Suetonius states that Titus captured the city of Jerusalem on the 6th birthday of his daughter,[1] this date being 8 September 70, but since Julia is presumed to have been the daughter of Titus by his first marriage[2] she must have been born before 64 when Titus was already married to his second wife. Thus the birthdate 8 September 64 likely belongs to her sister.

References

  1. ^ Shelton, Jo-Ann (2013). The Women of Pliny's Letters. Routledge. p. 387. ISBN 9780415374286.
  2. ^ Stevens, Courtenay Edward (1975). Levick, Barbara (ed.). The Ancient Historian and His Materials: Essays in Honour of C. E. Stevens on His Seventieth Birthday (illustrated ed.). Gregg. p. 140. ISBN 9780576782401.
  3. ^ Sellars, Ian J. (2013). The Monetary System of the Romans: A description of the Roman coinage from early times to the reform of Anastasius. p. 123.
  4. ^ W. Jones, Brian (1996). Suetonius: Domitian. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 150. ISBN 9781853994548.
  5. ^ Syme, Ronald (1979). Roman Papers. Vol. 7 (new, illustrated ed.). Clarendon Press. p. 653. ISBN 9780198144908.
  6. ^ a b W. Jones, Brian (1993). The Emperor Domitian. Taylor & Francis. p. 38. ISBN 9780415101950.
  7. ^ Rawson, Beryl (2003). Children and Childhood in Roman Italy. OUP Oxford. p. 241. ISBN 9780191514234.
  8. ^ W. Jones, Brian (1993). The Emperor Domitian. Taylor & Francis. p. 40. ISBN 9780415101950.
  9. ^ a b W. Jones, Brian (1993). The Emperor Domitian. Taylor & Francis. p. 39. ISBN 9780415101950.
  10. ^ Cassius Dio, 67.3
  11. ^ Juvenal, Satires ii.32.
  12. ^ W. Jones, Brian (1993). The Emperor Domitian. Taylor & Francis. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9780415101950.
  13. ^ Suetonius, Domitian 17.3

Sources

Further reading

External links

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