# Scribonia

> Roman noblewoman, second wife of Augustus and mother of Julia the Elder

**Wikidata**: [Q233444](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233444)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribonia_(wife_of_Octavian))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/scribonia

## Summary

Scribonia was a Roman noblewoman who became the second wife of Augustus (originally Octavian) and is best known as the mother of Julia the Elder, one of the most prominent women in Roman imperial history. Her marriage to Augustus, though brief, connected her directly to the foundation of the Roman Empire and the Julio-Claudian dynasty. As the mother of Augustus's only biological child who survived to adulthood, Scribonia played a significant role in the imperial succession.

## Biography

- **Born:** Unknown date and place (Roman noblewoman)
- **Nationality:** Ancient Rome
- **Education:** Not specified in source material
- **Known for:** Being the second wife of Augustus and mother of Julia the Elder
- **Employer(s):** The Roman Imperial household
- **Field(s):** Roman nobility / Imperial family

## Contributions

Based on the limited source material available, Scribonia's primary contributions relate to her role in the Julio-Claudian dynasty:

- **Marriage to Augustus:** Scribonia married Octavian (later Augustus) as his second wife, forming a political alliance during a crucial period in Roman history
- **Mother of Julia the Elder:** She gave birth to Julia the Elder (Julia Major), who became a pivotal figure in imperial succession and was the mother of the emperor Caligula's mother, Agrippina the Elder
- **Imperial Lineage:** Through her daughter, Scribonia became grandmother to Caligula's maternal line, influencing subsequent emperors

## FAQs

**Who was Scribonia in Roman history?**
Scribonia was a Roman noblewoman who married Augustus (Octavian) as his second wife and became the mother of Julia the Elder, making her a key figure in the early Roman Empire's imperial family.

**What is Scribonia most known for?**
Scribonia is most known for being the second wife of Emperor Augustus and the mother of Julia the Elder, who played a crucial role in the Julio-Claudian dynasty's succession.

**How was Scribonia connected to the Roman Empire?**
Scribonia's marriage to Augustus placed her at the center of the Roman Empire's founding, and her daughter Julia the Elder became one of the most influential women in Roman imperial history.

**What happened to Scribonia after her marriage to Augustus?**
The source material does not provide details about Scribonia's life after her marriage to Augustus ended.

## Why They Matter

Scribonia's significance in Roman history stems from her direct connection to the foundation of the Roman Empire and the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Though historical records about her are limited, her role as mother of Julia the Elder ensured her place in imperial genealogy. Julia the Elder would become the grandmother of Caligula and great-grandmother of Nero, making Scribonia an ancestor to multiple Roman emperors. Her brief marriage to Augustus occurred during a transformative period in Roman history when the Republic transitioned to the Empire, and her daughter would go on to shape imperial politics for generations.

## Notable For

- Being the second wife of Augustus (Octavian), the first Roman Emperor
- Mother of Julia the Elder, one of the most politically significant women in early imperial Rome
- Connection to the founding of the Roman imperial family
- Ancestor of multiple Julio-Claudian emperors through her daughter

## Body

### Identity and Background

Scribonia was a Roman noblewoman belonging to the Scribonii family, an ancient Roman gens with notable political connections. As a member of the Roman aristocracy, she would have received the typical education and social training expected of noblewomen in the late Roman Republic period. Her exact birth date and place are not recorded in the available source material, though as a noblewoman, she would have been raised in Rome or at family estates in Italy.

### Marriage to Augustus

Scribonia married Octavian (who would later become Augustus) as his second wife. This marriage represented a political alliance during a critical period in Roman history when Octavian was consolidating power following the death of Julius Caesar. The marriage was strategically important, connecting Octavian to a noble family while he navigated the complex political landscape of the late Republic. However, the marriage was relatively short-lived, as Augustus eventually divorced Scribonia.

### Role as Mother

The most significant aspect of Scribonia's legacy is her role as mother to Julia the Elder (Julia Major). Julia was Augustus's only biological child who survived to adulthood, making her critically important to the emperor's plans for succession. Julia would go on to marry multiple times and become mother to Agrippina the Elder, who was the mother of Emperor Caligula. Through this lineage, Scribonia became an ancestor to several Roman emperors, including Caligula and potentially Nero through adoption.

### Historical Significance

While specific details about Scribonia's personal life, actions, or influence are not fully preserved in the available source material, her historical importance is clear from her connections. As the wife of the man who would become the first Roman Emperor and as the mother of one of the most politically active women of the early Empire, Scribonia occupies a meaningful place in Roman imperial history. Her daughter Julia the Elder was known for her political maneuvering, multiple marriages, and eventual exile, all of which shaped the course of imperial succession.

### Legacy and Descendants

Through her daughter Julia the Elder, Scribonia's genealogical impact extended through multiple generations of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Her descendants included not only Caligula but also connected to the imperial line through Julia's children and grandchildren. The political significance of Julia the Elder ensured that Scribonia's lineage remained relevant to Roman imperial history, even as the specific details of Scribonia's own life remain largely unknown from the available historical records.

## References

1. Julia the Elder
2. Octavii
3. Scribonii
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013