IN the consulship of Rubellius and Fufius, both of whom had the
surname Geminus, died in an advanced old age Julia Augusta. A Claudia by
birth and by adoption a Livia and a Julia, she united the noblest blood of
Rome. Her first marriage, by which she had children,
was with Tiberius Nero, who, an exile during the Perusian war, returned to
Rome when peace had been concluded between Sextus
Pompeius and the triumvirs. After this Csar, enamoured of her beauty,
took her away from her husband, whether against her wish is uncertain. So
impatient was he that he brought her to his house actually pregnant, not
allowing time for her confinement. She had no subsequent issue, but allied
as she was through the marriage of Agrippina and Germanicus to the blood of
Augustus, her great-grandchildren were also his. In the purity of her home
life she was of the ancient type, but was more gracious than was thought
fitting in ladies of former days. An imperious mother and an amiable wife,
she was a match for the diplomacy of her husband and the dissimulation of
her son. Her funeral was simple, and her will long remained unexecuted. Her
panegyric was pronounced from the Rostra by her great-grandson, Caius
Csar, who afterwards succeeded to power.
