# Lucilla

Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla or Lucilla (7 March 148 or 150 – 182) was the second daughter of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and Roman empress Faustina the Younger. She was the wife of her father's co-ruler and adoptive brother Lucius Verus and an elder sister to later emperor Commodus. Commodus ordered Lucilla's execution after a failed assassination and coup attempt when she was about 33 years old.

## Early life

Born and raised in Rome into the empire's ruling family, Lucilla was a younger twin with her elder brother Gemellus Lucillae, who died around 150. Lucilla's maternal grandparents were Roman emperor Antoninus Pius and Roman empress Faustina the Elder and her paternal grandparents were Domitia Lucilla and praetor Marcus Annius Verus.

## Marriages and ascension to Empress

In 161, when she was between 11 and 13 years old, Lucilla's father arranged a marriage for her with his co-ruler Lucius Verus. Verus, 18 years her senior, became her husband three years later in Ephesus in 164. At this marriage, she received her title of Augusta and became a Roman empress. At the same time, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus were fighting a Parthian war in Syria.
Lucilla and Lucius Verus had three children:
* Aurelia Lucilla was born in 165 in Antioch
* Lucilla Plautia
* Lucius Verus
Aurelia and Lucius died young.
Lucilla was an influential and respectable woman and she enjoyed her status. She spent much time in Rome, while Verus was away from Rome much of the time, fulfilling his duties as a co-ruler. Lucius Verus died around 168/169 while returning from the war theater in the Danube region, and as a result, Lucilla lost her status as empress.
As an unattached link to Emperor Aurelius and to the late co-emperor Verus and because of her royal-born offspring, Lucilla was not destined for a long widowhood. A short time later, in 169, her father arranged a second marriage for her with Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus from Antioch. He was a Syrian Roman who was twice consul and a political ally to her father, but Lucilla and her mother were against the marriage as a less than ideal match, partly because Quintianus was at least twice Lucilla's age, but also because he was not of her own Roman nobilis social rank though he was descended from rulers in the East. They married nonetheless and, about a year later, in 170, had a son named Pompeianus.

## Rise of Commodus

In 172, Lucilla and Quintianus accompanied Marcus Aurelius to Vindobona (now Vienna) in support of the Danube military campaign and were with him on 17 March 180, when Aurelius died and Commodus became the new emperor. The change ended any hope of Lucilla becoming empress again and she and Quintianus returned to Rome.
Lucilla was not happy living the quiet life of a private citizen in Rome, and hated her sister-in-law Bruttia Crispina. Over time, Lucilla became very concerned with her brother Commodus' erratic behaviour and its resulting effect on the stability of the empire.

## Plot to assassinate Commodus

In light of her brother's unstable rule, in 182 Lucilla became involved in a plot to assassinate Commodus and replace him with her husband and herself as the new rulers of Rome. Her co-conspirators included Publius Tarrutenius Paternus the Praetorian prefect, her daughter Plautia from her first marriage, a nephew of Quintianus also called Quintianus, and her paternal cousins, the former consul Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus and his sister Ummidia Cornificia Faustina.
Quintianus' nephew, brandishing a dagger or sword, bungled the assassination attempt. As he burst forth from his hiding place to commit the deed, he boasted to Commodus "Here is what the Senate sends to you", giving away his intentions before he had the chance to act. Commodus's guards were faster than Quintianus and the would-be assassin was overpowered and disarmed without injuring the emperor.
Commodus ordered the deaths of Quintianus' nephew and of Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus, and banished Lucilla, her daughter, and Ummidia Cornificia Faustina to the Italian island of Capri. He sent a centurion there to execute them later that year. Her son Pompeianus was later murdered by Caracalla.

## In popular culture

* In the 1964 film The Fall of the Roman Empire, Lucilla is played by Sophia Loren, her part in the film's plot bearing only a very loose relation to Lucilla's real life.
* In the 2000 film Gladiator and its 2024 sequel, Lucilla is played by Connie Nielsen.
* In the 2016 six-part docuseries Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, Lucilla is played by Tai Berdinner-Blades.

## Nerva–Antonine family tree

vteNerva–Antonine family tree :
| Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | Q. Marcius Barea Soranus | | | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | Q. Marcius Barea Sura | | | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | Antonia Furnilla | | | | | | | | | | | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | M. Cocceius Nerva | | | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | Sergia Plautilla | | | | | | | | | | | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus | P. Aelius Hadrianus |
| Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | Titus (r. 79–81) | | | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | Marcia Furnilla | | | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | Marcia | | | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | Trajanus Pater | | | | | | | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | Nerva (r. 96–98) | | | | | | | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | Ulpia | | | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus | Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus |
| | | | | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | Flavia | | | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | Marciana | | | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | C. Salonius Matidius | | | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | Trajan (r. 98–117) | | | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | Plotina | | | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | P. Acilius Attianus | | | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | P. Aelius Afer | | | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major | Paulina Major |
| Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | Lucius Mindius (2) | | | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | Libo Rupilius Frugi (3) | | | | | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | Salonia Matidia | | | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | L. Vibius Sabinus (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | Paulina Minor | | | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus | L. Julius Ursus Servianus |
| | | | | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | Matidia Minor | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | Sabina | | | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | Hadrian (r. 117–138) | | | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | Antinous | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | C. Fuscus Salinator I | | | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina | Julia Serviana Paulina |
| M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | | | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | Rupilia Faustina | | | | | | | | | | | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | Boionia Procilla | | | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | Cn. Arrius Antoninus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | L. Ceionius Commodus | | | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | Appia Severa | | | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II | C. Fuscus Salinator II |
| | | | | | | | | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | L. Caesennius Paetus | | | | | | | | | | | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | Arria Antonina | | | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | Arria Fadilla | | | | | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | T. Aurelius Fulvus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | L. Caesennius Antoninus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | L. Commodus | | | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | Plautia | | | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | | | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus | C. Avidius Nigrinus |
| M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | M. Annius Verus | | | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | Calvisia Domitia Lucilla | | | | | | | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | Fundania | | | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | M. Annius Libo | | | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | Faustina | | | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161) | | | | | | | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | L. Aelius Caesar | | | | | | | | | | | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia | Avidia |
| Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | Cornificia | | | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) | | | | | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | Faustina Minor | | | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | C. Avidius Cassius | | | | | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | Aurelia Fadilla | | | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | Lucius Verus (r. 161–169) (1) | | | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | Ceionia Fabia | | | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | | | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | Q. Servilius Pudens | | | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia | Ceionia Plautia |
| Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | Cornificia Minor | | | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | M. Petronius Sura | | | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | Commodus (r. 177–192) | | | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | Fadilla | | | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | M. Annius Verus Caesar | | | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2) | | | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | Lucilla | | | | | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | M. Plautius Quintillus | | | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | Junius Licinius Balbus | | | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia | Servilia Ceionia |
| | | | | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | Petronius Antoninus | | | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2) | | | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | Aurelia Sabina | | | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | L. Antistius Burrus (1) | | | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | Plautius Quintillus | | | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | Plautia Servilla | | | | | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus | | | Maecia Faustina | Maecia Faustina | Maecia Faustina | Maecia Faustina | Maecia Faustina | Maecia Faustina | | | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? | Junius Licinius Balbus? |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | Furia Sabina Tranquillina | | | | | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) | Gordian III (r. 238–244) |
* (1) = 1st spouse
* (2) = 2nd spouse
* (3) = 3rd spouse
* Reddish-purple indicates emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty  lighter purple indicates designated imperial heir of said dynasty who never reigned  grey indicates unsuccessful imperial aspirants  bluish-purple indicates emperors of other dynasties
* dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships
* Small Caps = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)
Notes:
Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
↑ Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
↑ Giacosa (1977), p. 8.
1 2 Levick (2014), p. 161.
↑ Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161.
1 2 Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
1 2 3 DIR contributor (Herbert W. Benario, 2000), "Hadrian".
1 2 Giacosa (1977), p. 9.
↑ Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161.
↑ Smith (1870), "Julius Servianus".
↑ Smith (1870), "Hadrian", pp. 319–322.
↑ Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p. 99 and passim; deification: Lamber (1984), pp. 2–5, etc.
↑ Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163.
1 2 3 4 Levick (2014), p. 163.
↑ It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman.
1 2 3 4 Levick (2014), p. 162.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Levick (2014), p. 164.
↑ Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
↑ Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163.
1 2 3 4 5 Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
↑ The epitomator of Cassius Dio (72.22) gives the story that Faustina the Elder promised to marry Avidius Cassius. This is also echoed in HA "Marcus Aurelius" 24.
↑ Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164.
1 2 3 Levick (2014), p. 117. :
References:
DIR contributors (2000). "De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families". Retrieved 14 April 2015.
Giacosa, Giorgio (1977). Women of the Caesars: Their Lives and Portraits on Coins. Translated by R. Ross Holloway. Milan: Edizioni Arte e Moneta. ISBN 0-8390-0193-2.
Lambert, Royston (1984). Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. New York: Viking. ISBN 0-670-15708-2.
Levick, Barbara (2014). Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-537941-9.
Smith, William, ed. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. :