Cornelia Sulla
Encyclopedia
Cornelia was one of the few Roman women mentioned in Roman Republic
an sources. She was the eldest daughter of Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
and his first wife, an Ilia or Julia.
Cornelia was educated by Sulla's second wife, Aelia, a gentlewoman of high repute. Aelia was a loving and devoted stepmother to both Cornelia and her younger brother Lucius Cornelius (who died young). Shortly after his son's death Sulla divorced Aelia in order to marry the aristocratic, extremely rich (and recently widowed) Caecilia Metella Dalmatica
. About 88 BC
Cornelia married Quintus Pompeius
Rufus, the son of Sulla's consular colleague Quintus Pompeius Rufus. The marriage produced two children, Pompeia (who became Julius Caesar
's second wife) and Quintus Pompeius
Rufus. Her husband was killed during Forum riots less than three years after their marriage, leaving Cornelia a widow with two small children. She remarried Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus
, the princeps senatus
, a respected figure in Roman circles and a close ally of her father's. Violent upheavals soon ensued out of the ongoing rivalry between Sulla and his former mentor the ageing Gaius Marius
. In 86 BC
while Sulla was in Asia Minor pursuing his war against King Mithridates VI of Pontus
, he was stripped of his imperium
by Marius and his colleagues, and forced into exile. Cornelia and her new husband took rapid steps to safeguard Sulla's estates from the resulting mock trials and proscriptions during Marius's seventh consulship. She then joined her father in exile and was quick to rejoin him after his triumphant return to Rome as Dictator in 81 BC
. For a time after his third wife's death Cornelia served as his official hostess until Sulla married his fourth and final wife, Valeria Messala
, around 80 BC. After Sulla's death in 78 BC she settled in as one of Rome's leading and most respected matrons. The exact time of her death is unknown.
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
an sources. She was the eldest daughter of Dictator 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...
and his first wife, an Ilia or Julia.
Cornelia was educated by Sulla's second wife, Aelia, a gentlewoman of high repute. Aelia was a loving and devoted stepmother to both Cornelia and her younger brother Lucius Cornelius (who died young). Shortly after his son's death Sulla divorced Aelia in order to marry the aristocratic, extremely rich (and recently widowed) Caecilia Metella Dalmatica
Caecilia Metella
Caecilia Metella was the name of all women in the Caecilius Metellus family, since feminine names were taken from the father's gens and cognomen declined in the female form.The name may refer to the following people:* Caecilia Metella Dalmatica...
. About 88 BC
88 BC
Year 88 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sulla and Rufus...
Cornelia married Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius was the name of various Romans from the gens Pompeius, who were of plebeian status. They lived during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.-Consul of 141 BC:...
Rufus, the son of Sulla's consular colleague Quintus Pompeius Rufus. The marriage produced two children, Pompeia (who became Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
's second wife) and Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius was the name of various Romans from the gens Pompeius, who were of plebeian status. They lived during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.-Consul of 141 BC:...
Rufus. Her husband was killed during Forum riots less than three years after their marriage, leaving Cornelia a widow with two small children. She remarried Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus
Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus
Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus, was a Roman politician and military commander who was consul in 77 BC.-Biography:Livianus was a well connected and influential figure in Late Republican politics. A member of the aristocratic party, brother of the tribune Marcus Livius Drusus and son of Marcus...
, the princeps senatus
Princeps senatus
The princeps senatus was the first member by precedence of the Roman Senate. Although officially out of the cursus honorum and owning no imperium, this office brought enormous prestige to the senator holding it.-Overview:...
, a respected figure in Roman circles and a close ally of her father's. Violent upheavals soon ensued out of the ongoing rivalry between Sulla and his former mentor the ageing Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
. In 86 BC
86 BC
Year 86 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cinna and Marius/Flaccus...
while Sulla was in Asia Minor pursuing his war against King Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
, he was stripped of his imperium
Imperium
Imperium is a Latin word which, in a broad sense, translates roughly as 'power to command'. In ancient Rome, different kinds of power or authority were distinguished by different terms. Imperium, referred to the sovereignty of the state over the individual...
by Marius and his colleagues, and forced into exile. Cornelia and her new husband took rapid steps to safeguard Sulla's estates from the resulting mock trials and proscriptions during Marius's seventh consulship. She then joined her father in exile and was quick to rejoin him after his triumphant return to Rome as Dictator in 81 BC
81 BC
Year 81 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Decula and Dolabella...
. For a time after his third wife's death Cornelia served as his official hostess until Sulla married his fourth and final wife, Valeria Messala
Valeria Messala
Valeria was the fourth wife of Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla. She was the daughter of Marcus Valerius Messalla Niger and sister to consul of 53 BC, Marcus Valerius Messalla Rufus....
, around 80 BC. After Sulla's death in 78 BC she settled in as one of Rome's leading and most respected matrons. The exact time of her death is unknown.