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HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN WHO CRAVES POWER!

"An imperious mother, and amiable wife." [edit caption]
"IT IS SAID THAT IF AUGUSTUS RULED THE WORLD, THEN LIVIA RULED AUGUSTUS." Taken from I CLAUDIUS, by Robert Graves.


I believe that the statement above rings true for any man throughout history, who has been elevated to a position of power and influence. Take a look at the great men of power we see before us today and in our recent history. Tony Blair, George Bush, Henry VIII, these men have had, and wield enormouse power in the world as we know it. The one thing that links them are the women who stand beside them. There is no Tony without Cherie. There is no George without Babs, and then there was Henry with his Harem of Women. These women are just as power hungry as their husbands, and in the case of Henry, he would just be another dead King if not for the actions of his wives.
The Caesars of Rome wielded the fate of the known world for hundreds of years, and became history itself that we learn about in schools the world over. The people we are looking at here today are not the Caesars, but there wives and consorts, who played a great hand in earning them their time on the Imperial throne. It was the workings of these women from the shadows of their husbands that made the Empire great, just as they elevated their spouses, so they would bring them down again. The wives of the Caesars were sly and ambitious. They ruled their own secret underclass of the female hierarchy with an iron grip, and a lust for power that matched their husband's.

LIVIA AUGUSTA:

The debate on the actions of the deified Empress Livia has spanned over two millennia, and is still inconclusive. There are those who, like so many others, percieve Livia to be a notorious poisoner, who cleared a path for her son, Tiberius Nero. These people also believe it was the ambitions of his mother that turned Tiberius into the degenerate monster he became. There are others who believe the name of Livia to be associated with Goodness, and the foundation of a stable family. After her death at the age of 86 she was proclaimed a goddess by the Emperor Claudius, and statues to her would be put in the household shrines of all citizens.

Livia was born into the illustrious family of the Livians, and the Claudians, which is where her name derived from. It is said that her ancestral stock dates back before the foundation of Rome, and there are none who have made more noise about the great men it has produced. Her person was like no other, being a great beauty, and being of elevated, fierce intelligence that out shone the women of Rome. She had a gaiety of temper that that was charming, and her clever mind never ceased to work. Augustus never had any serious discorse with her that he noted in his journals, but what we know from other sources paints a different picture.

She was haughty and proud, with that short temper and distainful air that is so familiar to the Claudian family. Her ambition knew no bounds, and it was this ambition that led to her status of being wife to the ruler of the world.

Her first husband was the noble Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, who was also of the Claudian family. He was a man of extraordinary bravery who attracted the attentions of Julius Caesar who granted him the Pontificate, and granted him honours in services rendered to the Republic. The marriage was a happy one and Livia became pregnant. The only thing that overshadowed her joy was the fear that it would be a girl. Such was her relief when she bore Tiberius, Nero, a strong and healthy son. It is said that she took an egg from a hen in her coop and warmed it in her hands. When the egg hatched, it was a fine cock, chick with a plume on its head. She took this to be an omen that her son would be destined for power.

When the civil wars between Octavian and Mark anthony arose, Livia made a descision that shaped the destiny of the Empire. Having given birth to another son, Drusus, Nero, livia and her husband were forced to flee the soldiers of Octavian. In a display of outstanding cunning, she divorced her husband and wed Octavian, who at this time took the name of Augustus. It was in this time that the Senate granted Augustus the title of Emperor and the Republic died.
To the populace, the marriage was a happy one. When after six months Livia bore no child by Augustus it is said that she suffered his infideliies with a tight smile and focused her efforts elsewhere.

Augustus at this time was favouring the husband of his daughter, Julia, Marcellas, to succeed him when his time had come. Julia's husband died mysteriously whilst Augustus was visiting Marcus Agrippa. Marcus Agrippa was next to marry Julia, he too, died a strange death. When Julia married Tiberius, she bore two children, Gaius and Lucius. Both died, and it is often said that they all fell by Livia's hand. Was this woman who ruled hand, in hand with her husband cutting a swathe to ensure her son's succession?

Both her sons became legends within the Roman military, and became two of the greatest generals that Rome would ever see. Tiberius bore his mother's ambitions silently, whilst Drusus made it clear he would work for the restoration of the Republic.

In Livia's mind, the Republic was dead, and she believed that Rome would only prosper under the rule of an Emperor. Drusus died after a wound became infected. Some say that Livia arranged the death of her younger son so that he might not hamper the thoughts of his elder brother, Tiberius. That particular story remains inconclusive.

It was in this time that Livia worked closely with augustus. He consulted her on every move he made, going so far as to leave her with possesion of the Imperial seal to sign documents whilst he was away from Rome. Such responsibility bestowed upon a woman was unheard of in Rome. It was the woman's place to keep the house and to weave cloth for clothes. Livia's fame soon increased that the nation called for her to be granted the title, Mother Of The Nation. A title that she refused for reasons of modesty. She did not fail to see Augustus' high regard of her, and used these oppourtunities to tentativly usher the advancment of her sons.

By this time, Marcellas, Agrippa, Gaius, Lucius and Drusus were dead. Augustus had fallen out with Tiberius over the treatment of his daughter and allowed him to retire to Rhodes. Augustus was advancing in years at this point, and was activly searching for a protege to groom for the throne, and now his gaze fell upon Postumus Agrippa, julia's last remaining son.

It is said that at this point, Rome was ruled entirely by Livia, as Augustus now relied upon his wife to steer Rome on her course. She was at this time adored by Rome, and her authority was respected by all who knew her, and her person was more revered than that of her husband. Everybody submitted to her orders, and that which was deemed impossible by one, was treated as a mere fancy by her. her policy and ambition caused her to adopt measures that were impenetrable, even to those who were clear sighted; and it was not without reason that Caligula refered to her as a female Ulysses, in woman's apparal. The workings of this most remarkable woman brought Augustus to the throne, and with her guidence he made Rome the superpower that dominated the world. Her network of spies informed the workings of every notable, and high'born household, and it was down to her secret influence that the deaths of Augustus' family, were attributed to illness, and tragedy.

Postumus was an obstacle that she removed with relative ease. She had circulated rumours that poisoned Augustus' mind. He had banished his own daughter to Pansa for her debaucheries, acts that Livia brought to his attention via his grandson before killing him. So Augustus was readily able to believe that her son could be guilty of the same acts, so thus banished him to Planasia.

Now none were left whom would stand in Tiberius' way, and Augustus recalled Tiberius to Rome, with some reluctance it is added. For reasons known to himself, Augustus travelled to Planasia with his aide, Maximus, to visit his exiled Grandson. They talked for many hours in seclusion, and returned to Rome in secret. This produced in his mind of Livia, a mistrust that some say proved fatal to him and Postumus for this vexed her greatly. She already knew of the visit for Maximus had confided in his wife, the Lady Martia, and she had been outwitted by Livia into revealing her secret.

We think that Augustus went to Planasia with the intention of bringing Postumus back to Rome as his successor, but how could he denounce the woman who had stood by his side for over fourty years. We can only assume that Posthumus had revealed to Augustus the workings, and evils of his wife, and had warned him of his own safety.
Augustus died.............. Stories surrounding his death are as numerous as they are fantastic. Some say that after a bout of illness he would only eat figs that he had picked himself, and water that he had drawn from the well. he believed that he had healed himself by allowing no one to touch his food. So that particular story tells of a Livia who smeared poison on the figs whilst they were still on the trees, and a Livia who gained access to his will, and modified it in Tiberius' favour. The other popular tale is told of a dying Augustus, who died peacefully in his bed with livia at his side, with the parting words....."Live mindful of our marriage Livia and fare well."

I leave it up to you to decide. Was Livia a monster who destroyed her opposition so that she might rule through her son? Or was Livia a great Roman Matron who deserved the deification she received? I have listed a great many negative points, so it is important to remember that she served Rome with a reverance, and passion that was unrivalled, and aided Rome in becoming the greatest Empire the world was ever to see. Livia, murderer, or Saint?


NEXT WEEK: MESSALINA.


[New Sub-article of HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN WHO CRAVES POWER] Library
~ Table of Contents ~
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN WHO CRAVES POWER

New Article of
Library

HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN WHO CRAVES POWER!

The Esquline Hill
Messalina Valeria
Marius Caesar
A preview chapter from my book
Claudia Julia Livia "aka" Livilla
Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder
Cicero
Minesium
Gaius Caesar aka Caligula
Boudicca
The Titans
Octavia Minor and Antonia Minor
Chapter 4 of my book.....enjoy!
no title
Octavian/Augustus
no title
Welcome message
First page
Cornelius Sulla