Livilla

Portret of Livilla (often attributed to Livia)

Livia Julia, often called Livia or Julia Livilla the Elder (circa 13 BC-AD 31) was the only daughter of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia. She played an important role in the Julio-Claudian dynasty as a desirable bride for potential successors to the Roman emperor during the principates of Augustus and her uncle Tiberius.

She was a sister of Germanicus and Claudius, daughter-in-Law of Agrippa and Tiberius, and aunt of Gaius "Caligula", Agrippina the Younger and Britannicus. See also: Julio-Claudian family tree.

She was married twice, first in 1 BC with Gaius Caesar, grandson of Augustus and potential successor. However, her husband died in 4 and Livilla married her cousin Drusus (son of Tiberius). Her daughter Livia Julia (the Younger) was born shortly after her second wedding.

After about 15 years, she had twin sons Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus Gemellus in 19, although only Tiberius Gemellus survived. It is worth mentioning that since some time, she had been seduced by Sejanus, the praetorian prefect of Tiberius. Sejanus had plans of his own and needed to remove Drusus as a potential successor. A few years after the birth of the twins, Sejanus was able to convince Livilla to help him murder her husband by poisoning him. This was done so skillfully that Drusus death in 23 seemed natural and caused no suspicion. Sejanus' request to marry Livilla a few years later was rejected by Tiberius.

In 31, Tiberius received evidence from his sister-in-law Antonia) that Sejanus planned a plot to overthrow him and Tiberius had Sejanus arrested and executed. Shortly before her own execution, Sejanus' wife revealed the murder of Drusus and the complicity of Livilla, who was executed that same year.