Her name became a byword for scandal. Her story is considerably more complicated than that.
This Messalina magnet features a dramatic portrait of Rome's most notorious empress, part of the Bad Boys of Rome collection. A striking piece for your refrigerator, locker, or magnetic surface - and a thoughtful gift for history enthusiasts and classics lovers.
ABOUT VALERIA MESSALINA (c. 20 AD – 48 AD)
Valeria Messalina was born into the highest tier of Roman aristocracy - descended from Augustus on both her mother's and father's side - and married her second cousin Claudius around 38 AD when she was a teenager and he was in his late forties. When Caligula was assassinated in 41 AD and Claudius was unexpectedly proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard, Messalina became empress in her early twenties, weeks later giving birth to Britannicus, Claudius's first son and heir. She had arrived at the center of Roman power with little preparation and enormous exposure.
What followed is one of antiquity's most contested narratives. Ancient sources - principally Tacitus and Suetonius, writing decades after her death in a political climate hostile to the Julio-Claudian line - paint her as ruthless, manipulative, and sexually insatiable. Modern historians have examined those accounts with considerably more skepticism. Tacitus himself drew on the memoirs of Agrippina the Younger, who replaced Messalina as Claudius's wife and whose son Nero was in direct competition with Messalina's son Britannicus for the succession - hardly a disinterested source. What is better established is that Messalina wielded real influence over Claudius, used that influence to eliminate political enemies, and accumulated wealth and power with an effectiveness that made her dangerous to those around her.
Her downfall came in 48 AD when, while Claudius was away from Rome, she conducted a public marriage ceremony with the senator Gaius Silius. Whether this was a genuine conspiracy to replace Claudius, a reckless miscalculation, or something else entirely, historians still debate. Claudius's freedman Narcissus moved against her before Claudius could be persuaded to show mercy. She was executed in the Gardens of Lucullus - gardens she had coveted and obtained - at around twenty-eight years old.
Messalina endures as a figure of fascination precisely because the historical record is so thoroughly shaped by those who had reasons to destroy her reputation. Reading past that record toward the actual woman remains one of ancient history's more compelling challenges.
PRODUCT FEATURES
- Available in three sizes: 3×3, 4×4, and 6×6 inches
- Matte finish for a sophisticated, glare-free surface
- Laminated surface for durability and color vibrancy
- White vinyl with strong magnetic backing
- Indoor use recommended