Caenis
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013) |
Roman imperial dynasties | ||
---|---|---|
Flavian dynasty | ||
Chronology | ||
69–79 AD |
||
79–81 AD |
||
81–96 AD |
||
Family | ||
|
||
Antonia Caenis or Cenide, a former slave and secretary of Antonia Minor (mother of the emperor Claudius), was the mistress or concubine of the Roman emperor Vespasian.[1][2][3][4]
Life
It could be thought that she had family in Istria, now in Croatia, based on a trip she took there (Suet. Dom. 12.3). In her 30s Caenis, still possibly a slave, was in an unofficial type of relationship with Vespasian, known as 'contubernium',[5] before his marriage. According to Suetonius, after the death of Vespasian's wife Flavia Domitilla, Vespasian and Caenis, now a freedwoman, resumed their relationship; she was his wife "in all but name" until her death in AD 74.
She had a remarkable memory and considerable influence on the emperor's administration, carried out official business on his behalf, and apparently made a lot of money from her position.[6] However, she was treated with disrespect by Vespasian's son Domitian, who refused to greet her as one of the family.[7]
Popular culture
The life of Caenis and her love-story with Vespasian is portrayed in Lindsey Davis' novel The Course of Honour. She is also a character who features regularly in Robert Fabbri's Vespasian series, where she is depicted as being the long lost grand-niece of the king of the Caenii, a rebelling tribe in Thracia.
See also
References
- ^ "Companion: Caenis". feminaeromanae.org. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
- ^ Anagnostou-Laoutides, Eva. "Anagnostou-Laoutides, E. and Charles, M.B. 2012. "Vespasian, Caenis and Suetonius," in C. Deroux (ed.), Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History XVI, Bruxelles: Editions Latomus , 530-547".
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Acton, Karen (2010-05-12). "Antonia Caenis and the Flavian Dynasty". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1605506.
- ^ Lefkowitz, Mary R.; Fant, Maureen B. (2005-08-23). Women's Life in Greece and Rome: A Source Book in Translation. JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8310-1.
- ^ [1]
- ^ (Cassius Dio 66.14)
- ^ (Suet. Dom. 12.3)
Sources
- Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Vespasian 3, 21; Domitian 12.3
- Dio Cassius, Roman History 66.14
- William Smith (1870), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology