The Role of Lucius Vitellius in the Death of Messallina

David Woods

doi:10.1163/1568525X-12342273

The Role of Lucius Vitellius in the Death of Messallina

David Woods

School of the Human Environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The role of Lucius Vitellius in the events leading to the death of Valeria Messallina, the third wife of the emperor Claudius, in autumn 48 ad is re-examined. It is argued that the freedman Narcissus delayed his action against Messallina for her dangerous affair with Gaius Silius until he could be sure of the tacit support of Vitellius, where Vitellius had been hoping for a practical opportunity to strike against Messallina ever since she had forced him to play a key part in the trial of his friend Valerius Asiaticus in late 47 ad.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	996-1007
Number of pages	12
Journal	Mnemosyne
Volume	70
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/1568525X-12342273
Publication status	Published - 2017

Keywords

Claudius
Lucius Vitellius
Narcissus
Tacitus
Valeria Messallina
Valerius Asiaticus

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10.1163/1568525X-12342273

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title = "The Role of Lucius Vitellius in the Death of Messallina",

abstract = "The role of Lucius Vitellius in the events leading to the death of Valeria Messallina, the third wife of the emperor Claudius, in autumn 48 ad is re-examined. It is argued that the freedman Narcissus delayed his action against Messallina for her dangerous affair with Gaius Silius until he could be sure of the tacit support of Vitellius, where Vitellius had been hoping for a practical opportunity to strike against Messallina ever since she had forced him to play a key part in the trial of his friend Valerius Asiaticus in late 47 ad.",

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N2 - The role of Lucius Vitellius in the events leading to the death of Valeria Messallina, the third wife of the emperor Claudius, in autumn 48 ad is re-examined. It is argued that the freedman Narcissus delayed his action against Messallina for her dangerous affair with Gaius Silius until he could be sure of the tacit support of Vitellius, where Vitellius had been hoping for a practical opportunity to strike against Messallina ever since she had forced him to play a key part in the trial of his friend Valerius Asiaticus in late 47 ad.

AB - The role of Lucius Vitellius in the events leading to the death of Valeria Messallina, the third wife of the emperor Claudius, in autumn 48 ad is re-examined. It is argued that the freedman Narcissus delayed his action against Messallina for her dangerous affair with Gaius Silius until he could be sure of the tacit support of Vitellius, where Vitellius had been hoping for a practical opportunity to strike against Messallina ever since she had forced him to play a key part in the trial of his friend Valerius Asiaticus in late 47 ad.

KW - Claudius

KW - Lucius Vitellius

KW - Narcissus

KW - Tacitus

KW - Valeria Messallina

KW - Valerius Asiaticus

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VL - 70

SP - 996

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JO - Mnemosyne

JF - Mnemosyne

IS - 6

ER -

The Role of Lucius Vitellius in the Death of Messallina

Abstract

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