Caenis
Antonia Caenis († 73/74 ) was the private secretary of the younger Antonia and the concubine of the emperor Vespasian. It is attested in Suetonius and Cassius Dio.
Life
Antonia Caenis served as slave of Antonia, the sister in law of Tiberius and mother of Claudius, for their private correspondence. The historian Cassius Dio in his Roman History says that Caenis was dictated by her mistress that incriminating document that led to the fall of the mighty praetorian prefect Sejanus 31. When she was then asked to forget what has been written once, it is said to have replied: "Your transfer, mistress, is in vain; ie I am not alone this, but also all the other what you have dictated to me, always in my mind, and it can never be repaid. "
Caenis was later released by Antonia and arrived at a considerable influence on the son of her former mistress yard. She began a relationship with the eligible Vespasian, who was married at that time still with Flavia Domitilla, and supported its rise under Claudius and Nero. They also proved to be very good at business and helped her partner in its financial transactions. Vespasian after the death of his wife officially a concubine, a regular marriage was due to the registrar difference ( Vespasian was a senator, Caenis a freedman ) is not possible.
After Vespasian had emerged from the turmoil of the Four Emperors Year 69 as an emperor, Caenis stepped next to him in public as a legal wife to. She lived in a prestigious villa on the Via Nomentana and had there own budget, in which they now occupied themselves slaves. Apparently, they treated their staff very well, it is called in any case in an inscription as optima patrona ( " best lady "). Through their participation in the financial operations of their partner to Caenis could acquire a considerable fortune. It is possible that after her death 73 or 74 built on the Via Nomentana spas go back to a testamentary foundation.
Reception
- Lindsey Davis: The consort of the emperor. Novel. Earthscan, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-426-63108-3.