List of Augustae
Appearance
Augusta (Classical Latin: [au̯ˈɡʊsta]; plural Augustae; Greek: αὐγούστα)[1] was a Roman imperial honorific title given to empresses and women of the imperial families. It was the feminine form of Augustus.
Augustae could issue their own coinage, wear imperial regalia, and rule their own courts.[1]
In the third century, Julia Domna was the first empress to receive the combined title Pia Felix Augusta after the death of her husband Septimius Severus, which may have implied greater powers being vested in her than was usual for a Roman empress mother. In this official position and honor, she accompanied her son on an extensive military campaign and provincial tour.[2]
Principate period
[edit]Julio-Claudian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Livia Livia Drvsilla Ivlia Avgvsta |
30 January 58 BC | AD 14 | Wife of Emperor Augustus and mother of Emperor Tiberius. | 28 September AD 29 |
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Antonia Minor Antonia Minor |
31 January 36 BC Athens |
AD 41 (posthumous) |
Mother of Emperor Claudius. | AD 37 Rome |
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Agrippina the Younger Ivlia Avgvsta Agrippina |
7 November AD 15 Oppidum Ubiorum |
AD 50 | Wife of Emperor Claudius and mother of Emperor Nero | 23 March AD 59 Misenum |
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Poppaea Sabina Poppaea Avgvsta Sabina |
AD 30 Pompeii |
AD 63 | Wife of Emperor Nero. | AD 65 Rome |
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Claudia Augusta Clavdia Avgvsta |
21 January AD 63 Antium |
AD 63 | Daughter of Emperor Nero. | April AD 63 |
Flavian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Domitilla the Younger Flavia Domitilla Avgvsta |
45 | Before 80 | Daughter of Emperor Vespasian. | 66 |
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Domitia Longina Domitia Longina Avgvsta |
50 | 80 | Wife of Emperor Domitian. | After 120 |
Nerva–Antonine dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Pompeia Plotina Pompeia Plotina Avgvsta |
54–68 | 105 | Wife of Emperor Trajan. | 123 |
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Ulpia Marciana Vlpia Marciana Avgvsta |
48 | 105 | Sister of Emperor Trajan. | 112–114 |
Salonia Matidia Salonia Matidia Avgvsta |
4 July 68 | 112 | Niece of Emperor Trajan. | 23 December 119 | |
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Vibia Sabina Vibia Sabina Avgvsta |
13 August 83 | 128 | Wife of Emperor Hadrian. | 136–137 |
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Faustina the Elder Annia Galeria Favstina Avgvsta |
21 September 100 | 138 | Wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius. | 140 |
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Faustina the Younger Annia Galeria Favstina Avgvsta Minor |
125–130 | 1 December 147[3] | Daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius; wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius; mother of Emperor Commodus. | 175 |
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Lucilla Annia Avrelia Galeria Lvcilla Avgvsta |
148–150 | 164 | Daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and wife of Emperor Lucius Verus. | 182 |
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Bruttia Crispina Brvttia Crispina Avgvsta |
164 Rome |
177 | Wife of Emperor Commodus. | 191 Capri |
Year of the Five Emperors
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Manlia Scantilla Manlia Scantilla |
193 | Wife of Emperor Didius Julianus. | 193 | |
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Didia Clara Didia Clara |
153 Rome |
193 | Daughter of Emperor Didius Julianus. | Unknown |
Severan dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Julia Domna |
c. 160 | Wife of Emperor Septimius Severus. | 217 | |
Fulvia Plautilla Pvblia Fvlvia Plavtilla Avgvsta |
185—189 | 210s | Wife of Emperor Caracalla. | 212 | |
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Julia Cornelia Paula Jvlia Cornelia Pavla |
219 | First wife of Emperor Elagabalus. | ||
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Aquilia Severa Ivlia Aqvilia Severa Avgvsta |
220 | Second and fourth wife of Emperor Elagabalus. As a Vestal Virgin her marriage to the Emperor was very controversial. | ||
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Julia Avita Mamaea Ivlia Avita Mamaea Avgvsta |
180 | 222 | Mother of Emperor Alexander Severus and co-regent, in his name, during his adolescence. | 235 |
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Sallustia Orbiana Seia Herennia Sallvstia Barbia Orbiana Avgvsta |
225 | Wife of Emperor Alexander Severus. |
Crisis of the Third Century
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Tranquillina Fvria Sabinia Tranqvillina Avgvsta |
c. 225 | 241 | Wife of Emperor Gordian III. | After 244 |
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Marcia Otacilia Severa Marcia Otacilia Severa Avgvsta |
240s | Wife of the Emperor Philip the Arab. | ||
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Herennia Etruscilla Annia Cvpressenia Herennia Etrvscilla Avgvsta |
Unknown | September 249 | Wife of Emperor Trajan Decius; mother of Emperor Herennius Etruscus and Emperor Hostilian. | c. 253 |
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Cornelia Supera Caia Cornelia Svpera Avgvsta |
253 | Wife of Aemilianus. | ||
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Cornelia Salonina Ivlia Cornelia Salonina Avgvsta |
Unknown | 253 | Wife of Emperor Gallienus. | 268 |
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Sulpicia Dryantilla Svlpicia Dryantilla |
c. 260 | Wife of usurper Emperor Regalianus, who named her avgvsta as part of legitimizing his claim. | 260 | |
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Victoria | 271 | Mother of Victorinus | 271 | |
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Zenobia Ivlia Avrelia Zenobia |
240 | 272 | Queen of the Palmyrene Empire, a short lived splinter empire that revolted during the Crisis. She proclaimed herself avgvsta and annexed the Eastern Mediterranean from Rome. | c. 275 |
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Ulpia Severina Vlpia Severina Avgvsta |
274 | Wife of Emperor Aurelian; possibly reigned in her own right after the death of her husband in 275. | ||
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Magnia Urbica Magnia Vrbica Avgvsta |
283 | Wife of Emperor Carinus. |
Dominate period
[edit]Tetrarchy
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Galeria Valeria Galeria Valeria Avgvsta |
308 | Daughter of Emperor Diocletian and wife of Emperor Galerius. | 315 |
Constantinian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Fausta Flavia Maxima Fausta Avgvsta |
289 | 324 | Wife of Constantine I and daughter of Emperor Maximian. Mother of: Constantina, Constantine II, Constantius II, Constans I and Helena. | 326 |
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Helena Flavia Ivlia Helena Avgvsta |
246—250 | c.324–325 | Mother of Constantine I and ex-wife or mistress of Emperor Constantius Chlorus (separated before his accession as Caesar). | 18 August 330 |
Constantina Avgvsta |
307—317 | After 312, before 337. | Daughter of Emperor Constantine I. Wife of Hannibalianus, Rex Regum et Ponticarum Gentium, "King of Kings and of the Pontic People". Wife of Caesar Constantius Gallus. | 354 |
Valentinianic dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Domnica Domnica Avgvsta |
364—378 | Wife of Emperor Valens. | After 378 | ||
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Galla Placidia Galla Placidia Avgvsta |
392 | c. 416 | Daughter of Theodosius I, wife of Constantius III, regent for her son Valentinian III. | 27 November 450 |
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Justa Grata Honoria Ivsta Grata Honoria Avgvsta |
After 426 | Sister of Valentinian III. |
Theodosian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Aelia Flaccilla Aelia Flavia Flaccilla Avgvsta |
Before 385 | Wife of Emperor Theodosius I. | 386 | |
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Eudoxia Aelia Evdoxia Avgvsta |
9 January 400 | Wife of Emperor Arcadius. | 6 October 404 | |
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Pulcheria Aelia Pvlcheria Avgvsta |
19 January 398–399 | 414 | Daughter of Arcadius, sister of Theodosius II, sole ruler for a month following the death of Theodosius, then co-ruler with her husband Marcian. | July 453 |
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Eudocia Aelia Evdocia Avgvsta |
401 | 2 January 423 | Wife of Theodosius II | 20 October 460 |
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Licinia Eudoxia Licinia Evdoxia Avgvsta |
422 | 439 | Daughter of Theodosius II, Wife of Valentinian III. | 462 |
Leonid dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Marcia Euphemia Aelia Marcia Euphemia Avgvsta |
c. 453 | Daughter of Marcian by an unknown woman. Wife of Anthemius. | 472 | |
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Verina Aelia Verina Avgvsta |
457 | Wife of Leo I, sister of Basiliscus, mother of Ariadne and Leontia. | 484 | |
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Ariadne Aelia Ariadne Avgvsta |
before 457 | 474 | Daughter of Leo I. Wife of Zeno. Mother of Leo II. Wife of Anastasius I. | 515 |
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Zenonis Aelia Zenonis Avgvsta |
475 | Wife of Basiliscus. | 476–477 |
Byzantine period
[edit]Justinian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Euphemia Εὐφημία, Euphemia Augusta |
518 | Wife of Justin I. Originally named Lupicina, renamed Euphemia on her husband's accession. | c.523/4, before 527. | |
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Theodora I Θεοδώρα, Theodora Augusta |
c. 500 | 9 August 527 | Wife of Justinian I. | 28 June 548 |
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Sophia Σοφία, Aelia Sophia Augusta |
568 | Wife of Justin II, intermittent regent. | c. 601 | |
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Ino Anastasia Ἰνὼ Ἀναστασία, Aelia Anastasia Augusta |
578 | Wife of Emperor Tiberius II. | 593 | |
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Constantina Κωνσταντῖνα |
c. 560 | 582 | Wife of Emperor Maurice. | c. 605 |
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Leontia Λεοντία |
602 | Wife of Emperor Phocas. |
Heraclian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Augustina, Αὐγουστίνα |
639 | Daughter of Heraclius. | |||
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Martina Μαρτίνα |
639 | Second wife of Heraclius, regent of Constantine III and Heraclonas | ||
Fausta Φαύστα |
c. 630 | 642 | Wife of Constans II. | After 668 |
Isaurian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Maria Μαρία |
25 August 718 | Wife of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. | |||
Anna Ἄννα |
741–742 | Wife of Artabasdos. | |||
Eudokia Ευδοκια |
1 April 769 | Third wife of Emperor Constantine V. | |||
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Irene of Athens Eἰρήνη η Ἀθηναία |
c. 752 | 17 December 769 | Wife of Emperor Leo IV the Khazar, empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. | 9 August 803 |
Nikephorian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Prokopia Προκοπία |
c. 770 | 12 October 811 | Daughter of Emperor Nikephoros I and wife of Michael I Rhangabe. | After 813 |
Amorian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Theodora the Armenian Θεοδώρα |
c. 815 | 830 | Wife of Emperor Theophilos and regent of Michael III. | After 867 |
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Thekla Θέκλα |
830s | Daughter of Theophilos. | ||
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Anna Ἄννα |
830s | Daughter of Emperor Theophilos. | ||
Anastasia Ἀναστασία |
830s | Daughter of Emperor Theophilos. |
Macedonian dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zoe Zaoutzaina Ζωή Ζαούτζαινα |
898 | Third wife of Leo VI the Wise | May 899 | ||
Theodora Θεοδώρα |
921 | Wife of Romanos I. | 20 February 922 | ||
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Helena Lekapene Ἑλένη Λεκαπηνή |
c. 910 | February 922 | Wife of Constantine VII. | 19 September 961 |
Sophia Σοφία |
February 922 | Wife of Christopher Lekapenos. | |||
Anna Ἄννα |
933 | Daughter of Gabalas and wife of Stephen Lekapenos. |
Komnenos dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Catherine of Bulgaria Αἰκατερίνη |
before 1018 | 1057 | Empress-consort of Emperor Isaac I Komnenos. | after 1059 |
Doukid dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Eudokia Makrembolitissa Ευδοκία Μακρεμβολίτισσα |
c. 1021 | 1059–1067 | Second wife of Constantine X Doukas and later wife of Romanos IV Diogenes, also regent of Michael VII Doukas | 1096 |
Komnenos dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Anna Dalassene Ἄννα Δαλασσηνή |
1025 | 1081 | Mother of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. | 1102 |
Palaiologos dynasty
[edit]Portrait | Name | Birth | Date of naming | Description | Death |
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Anna of Savoy Ἄννα |
1306 | c. 1326 | Wife of Andronikos III Palaiologos, mother and regent of John V Palaiologos. | 1365 |
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Helena Dragaš Ἑλένη Δραγάση |
1372 | c. 1392 | Wife of Manuel II Palaiologos. | 1450 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ a b Kazhdan 1991, pp. 694–695.
- ^ Langford 2013, Introduction, note 88; Bédoyère 2018, p. 282.
- ^ Barbara Levick (2014). Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-19-537941-9.
- ^ a b c Société française de numismatique et d'archéologie 1873, p. 151.
Sources
[edit]- Bédoyère, Guy de la (2018). Domina: The Women Who Made Imperial Rome. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300230307.
- Kazhdan, Alexander Petrovich, ed. (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. New York, New York and Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- Langford, Julie (2013). Maternal Megalomania: Julia Domna and the Imperial Politics of Motherhood. JHU Press. ISBN 9781421408484.
- Société française de numismatique et d'archéologie (1873). Comptes rendus de la Société française de numismatique et d'archéologie (in French). Vol. IV. Paris.
{{cite book}}
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External links
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