Antistia
Encyclopedia
Antistia was the first wife of Pompey the Great. Pompey had been arraigned on charges of peculation of plunder. The judge of Pompey's trial happened to be Antistia's father. Pompey made a deal with Antistius
, and agreed to marry Antistia. In exchange, he was acquitted.
However, the marriage did not last. Lucius Cornelius Sulla
had been fighting against Mithridates the Great of Pontus whilst Lucius Cornelius Cinna
and Gnaeus Papirius Carbo
ruled Rome. Upon his return, Sulla went to war against Carbo, as Cinna had died the year before. In retaliation, Carbo murdered any man who he believed to be an adherent of Sulla. Among those who perished were Antistia's father. Her mother committed suicide after her father's death.
The end of the marriage was precipitated by the young Pompey's prodigious military skill and defiance of tradition. Pompey brought Sulla an army, and used it expertly to further Sulla's purposes. Wishing to form a stronger alliance, Sulla offered Pompey his pregnant stepdaughter Aemilia Scaura
, and Pompey readily divorced Antistia.
Antistius
Publius Antistius was a Roman senator in the 1st century BC. His daughter Antistia was the first wife of Pompey the Great.He was murdered in the Senate under suspicion of favoring Sulla for his son in law's sake. His wife committed suicide soon after....
, and agreed to marry Antistia. In exchange, he was acquitted.
However, the marriage did not last. Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
had been fighting against Mithridates the Great of Pontus whilst Lucius Cornelius Cinna
Lucius Cornelius Cinna
Lucius Cornelius Cinna was a four-time consul of the Roman Republic, serving four consecutive terms from 87 to 84 BC, and a member of the ancient Roman Cinna family of the Cornelii gens....
and Gnaeus Papirius Carbo
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo was a three-time consul of ancient Rome.A member of the Carbones of the plebeian gens Papiria, and nephew of Gaius Papirius Carbo , he was a strong supporter of the Marian party, and took part in the blockade of Rome...
ruled Rome. Upon his return, Sulla went to war against Carbo, as Cinna had died the year before. In retaliation, Carbo murdered any man who he believed to be an adherent of Sulla. Among those who perished were Antistia's father. Her mother committed suicide after her father's death.
The end of the marriage was precipitated by the young Pompey's prodigious military skill and defiance of tradition. Pompey brought Sulla an army, and used it expertly to further Sulla's purposes. Wishing to form a stronger alliance, Sulla offered Pompey his pregnant stepdaughter Aemilia Scaura
Aemilia Scaura
Aemilia Scaura was the daughter of the patrician Roman Marcus Aemilius Scaurus and his second wife Caecilia Metella Dalmatica....
, and Pompey readily divorced Antistia.