International Women’s Day – The Women Who Ruled Rome

Posted on by Lucy Young

Although the main posts of office typically fell to men, women were no mere bystanders in the political quagmire of the Roman Empire. Many women held positions of influence and power, gained – as with many men – through advantageous marriages, familial ties or wealth. Some women even ruled as de-facto rulers in the stead of their children. But political life in Rome was dangerous for everyone and these women often became embroiled – or indeed embroiled themselves – in gossip, plots, and assassinations. Here are some of these powerful women whose coins have been found in Nottinghamshire:

Lucilla

A silver denarius of Lucilla from Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
A silver denarius of Lucilla from Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire (DENO-E717C2). Copyright: Derby Museums Trust. License: CC BY.

Lucilla (AD c. 148 – 182) was the sister of Commodus,  an emperor infamous for his turbulent rule. Lucilla plotted with others to assassinate Commodus and replace him with her husband. The assassin blotched the attempt on Commodus’s life, and the emperor banished Lucilla to the island of Capri, before sending a centurion to execute her.

Julia Domna

A silver denarius of Julia Domna from Langford, Nottinghamshire
A silver denarius of Julia Domna from Langford, Nottinghamshire (SWYOR-26D6C4). Copyright: West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service. License: CC BY-SA.

Julia Domna (AD 170 – 217) was empress to Septimius Severus and the mother of Geta and Caracalla. Julia Domna enjoyed philosophy and encouraged the sophist Philostratus to write Life of Apollonius of Tyana, a key text that supposedly recounts the travels of the titular philosopher. Julia was also unusual in that she accompanied her husband on campaigns, including to Britain. It was in York that Septimius Severus died in AD 211. His will stated his desire for Geta and Caracalla to share power. However, Geta and Caracalla were not on good terms and Julia had to act as mediator between the two. Unfortunately for Julia, this mediation did not prove successful, as within a year Caracalla’s soldiers had killed Geta. Julia continued to accompany Caracalla on his campaigns until he was assassinated in a coup by Macrinus, prompting Julia to kill herself.

Julia Soaemias

A silver denarius of Julia Soaemias from Collingham, Nottinghamshire
A silver denarius of Julia Soaemias from Collingham, Nottinghamshire (NCL-A3FA24). Copyright: All rights reserved. Licence: CC BY SA

Another Julia – Julia Soaemias (AD 180 – 222) – sought to capitalise on her cousin Caracalla’s assassination and the fragility of Macrinus’s rule. She claimed that her son was the illegitimate child of Caracalla. Following Marcinus’s execution, Julia’s son ascended to the throne, becoming the emperor known as Elagabalus. Because he was still a young teenager, Julia ruled in her son’s stead. However, after four years they were both murdered by the Praetorian Guard. Julia’s reign was so unpopular that her name was removed from records and she was proclaimed a public enemy.

Helena

A copper alloy nummus of Helena from Perlethorpe, Nottinghamshire.
A copper alloy nummus of Helena from Perlethorpe, Nottinghamshire (DENO-3EBCA8). Copyright: Derby Museums Trust. License: CC BY-SA.

The influence of some prominent women in the Roman Empire continues to this day. Wife of Emperor Constantius Chlorus, Helena (AD c. 250 – 330) is thought to have been a Greek Christian. She is known for the supposed influence that she had over her son, Emperor Constantine I. Although scholars debate when Constantine adopted Christianity, during his reign he stopped the persecution of Christians and legalised the religion in the Roman Empire. As a result of Helena’s presumed role in Constantine’s conversion, many Christian denominations regard her as a saint.