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Livia's father was a Claudian but didn't know his parents. Late in his life he was adopted by Diodorus Siculus. Both sets of parents left him wealth in their wills. This wealth and prestigous heritage would be passed on to Livia and direct her towards a highly political life.
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Livia is born to Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus and Alfidia ( her mother's records show no other names).
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Livia's father make the match based on political standings. The fact that both Livia and Nero are of Claudian decent is also key. Nero was from the lesser branch of Claudians ( Neronian Claudians) however the marriage would strengthen the Claudian ties.
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Tiberious being a newborn, he cries during various time that Livia and Nero are hiding and almost gives away their position.
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Livia's first son is Tiberious Claudius Nero. Tiberious was born in a dangerous time, The first Triumve was falling after Julius Ceaser's death. Tiberius' first three years would be spent in exile.
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Marcus innitially made tha match between Livia and Nero becaus he and Nero had the same political ideals. When Julias Ceasear was killed, both Nero and Marcus backed Pompey. Marc Antony and Octavian started winning the war so Marcus commited suicide instead of surrendering. Tiberious goes into exile and tries to regroup with Pompey, but the tides start turning. Pompey and Octavian meand a few fences, but not all. After three years on the run, Livia's adopted brother (Scribonia's nephew) gets.
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Livia, Nero, and Tiberious back to Rome.
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Livia's family is forced into exile under the threat of Nero's death. Livia could kill her husband and get the reward money, but she stands by his side. She risks her life as well as that of her son to keep her family together.
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Livia's father commits suicide rather that giving himself up. In his will he adopts Marcus Livius Drusus Libo. Adoptions into families when the adoptor died were common durring the time. Many adopties were in their twenties and thirties. They could reject the adoption or join the family. Marcus Livius Drusuus Libo chose to accept the adoption.
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After three years of being in exile, Livia askes her newly adopted brother, who's aunt was Octavian's wife (Scribonia), to intervein on her and Nero's behalf.
The other thought was that Nero sided with Marc Antony who was making friends with Octavian. It was because of this alliance that Livia's family could return to Rome. -
Livia's family returns to rome with the help of her adopted brother Marcus Livius Drusus Libo
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Livia becomes aquainted with Octavian ( It is suspected that she is his mistress) over the course of a year. Octavian requested that Nero divorce Livia so that he Octavian could marry her. It is thought that Scribona, Livia's brother's aunt, introduces Livia to Octavian. Nero complies with Octavian in hopes of gaining higher political standing.
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Livia gives birth to her second son by Nero. Both boys would live with Nero for the next five years. Claudius Drusus Nero would later be known as just Drusus.
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Livia marries Octavian three days after giving birth to Drusus. In other versions of the story, Livia marries Octavian before giving birth. Octavian and Livia married so quickly that many said that Livia was abducted from Nero. Octavian also divorced to marry Livia. He divorced his wife Scribonia the day that she gave birth to his only natural daughter, Julia. Julia would live with Octavian, not Scribonia.
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Octavian and Marc Antony are the only ones left of the Triumve and both want to rule. Octavian can't outright declair war on Marc Antony becaus Antony is more popular in rome. He also can't afford to start a second civil war because everyone would just be done with him. Octavian decides to declair war on Cleopatra instead, Antony's mistriss and eventual wife.
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Livia and Octavian have a bumpy start to their marriage. They show off their wealth rather than connecting to the common people.
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Octavian knows that he can't declair war on Antony directly so he attacks Cleopatra. She is the exact opposite of Roman. Livia must be the perfect Roman Wife so that Antony can't come back and attack Octavian for the same thing. Cleopatra has power, Livia has no political desire. Cleopatra shows off her wealth, Livia dresses simply. Cleopatra is promiscous, Livia wears the Roman Stola, A long burlap sack essentially.
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Octavian lived on the Palentine with Octavia living very near. Octavian and Livia raised Julia. Octavia had Marcellus, her son, as well as two younger daughters, both named Antonia. Octavia also had daughters from previous marriages (her current marriage was to Marc Antony) that lived with their father. Livia's sons lived with Nero.
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Marcellus (son of Octavia and nephew of Octavian)
Marcellus would turn out to be Octavian’s first choice of heir when it becomes clear that a daughter by Livia is unlikely. Octavian would marry his only daughter (from a previous marriage) to Marcellus and groomed him towards the position that Octavian held. -
Octavian convinces senat to grant both Octavia and Livia sacrosanctity, This allowed for public images of them to be created, allowed them finantial freedom and gave them high political standing.
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“The Historian Suetonius noted that Augustus' "various acts of adultery" were "not denied even by his friends". His early enemies (especially Mark Antony and his brother Lucius Antony, when they were still alive) were free with accusations, which he apparently answered only with the famous "and so is your mother." “
Augustus wasn’t faithful and had no defense against accusations except for some mumbling. -
Nero dies after a very unsuccesful political carreer. He bequeths the guardianship of his children to Octavian. This is said to be the begining of Livia's ambition for her sons.
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Octavia's status of sacrosanctity gave Octavian the excuse he needed to attack Marc Antony. Antony was seeing Cleopatra, which was considered an insult against Octavia. Octavian offically decreed war against Cleopatra, who was being backed by Marc Antony and his troops.
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Livia adopted her sister-in-law's very Roman Republic hairstyle the nodus. She and Octavian also pushed the fact that she worked the loom that sat in their atria. Her sacrosanctity went towards rebuilding religious sects.
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Tiberious is engaged to Vispana Agrippina. The daughter of Octavian's right had general Agrippa
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Marcus Agrippa, Octavian's right had general, defeats Marc Antoly in a naval battle.
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Marc Antony surrenders to Octavian by suicide. Cleopatra is soon to follow in suicide.
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Durring the triumph (The parade through Rome) over Marc Antony, Octavian places Marcellus on his right and Tiberious on his left indicating his desire in the order of succession/heir.
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Octavian is forced to be emperor
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Octavian's prefered heir is chosen once and for all.
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Marcellus dies!!!! Livia blamed, poison
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Octavian (Augustus) felt that his illness, the same that kills Marcellus, was so fatal that he got his affairs in order. Despite popular thought tha he would give the principate to Marcellus, he sybolically gave the power to Agrippa. He gave Agrippa his ring.
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Octavian marries Julia to Agrippa on Octavia's suggestion. Agrippa divorces his wife Marcella, Octavia's daughter, to marry his oldest friends daughter. This puts him directly in line for the principate.
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This is Marcus Agrippa's daughter.
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His name was Gaius and was shortly accompanied by a sister named Julia ( Known as Julia the Younger).
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Augustus decides to adopt his daughters son. He indicates that he plans for him to be his heir. He is overly controling over the fact that he wants his blood in his heir for the principate.
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Laws were passed that allowed Livia the honor of matron even though she only had two children(requirement was four). However it was only an honor because she had already been granted sacrosanctity.
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Julia gives birth to her second son by Agrippa. Her son is immediatly adopted by Augustus and considered a viable heir.
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Antonia Minor is Livia's favorite and Octavia's youngest daughter from her marriage to Marc Antony.
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Agrippa dies of unknown causes in southern Italy. Augustus' daughter is again a widdow.
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After Julia gives birth to her fifth child, she marries Tiberious, after the proper amount of time.
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Octavia dies, not much is said about how.
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Drusus dies in a riding accident. This is the one time that Livia consults somone on how to act in public because she is so stricken with greif that she can't compose herself. It is said that Augustus liked Drusus as well, even more than Tiberious. Drusus' wife Antonia Minor would remain husbandless and followed in Livia's footsteps.
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Tiberious, tired of politics, his mother, Julia, or somthing else, ventures off to Rhodes to learn.
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Augustus is granted the titile and recieves the country as Father of the country which fits into the theme of Rome. Augustus Rome connected the family and politics. It was henceforth suggested that Livia was the Mother of the country, though not officially.
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Julia is revealed to have been promiscuous and entered the political portion of the Roman city to advertise her promiscuity.
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Tiberious returns to Rome on the condition that he retires from political life. He also must be accepted by Gaius, who is essentially the highest level.
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Lucious is traveling and suddenly dies, Livia is of course blamed
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Tiberious is adopted by Augustus is desperation. Tiberious had to name Germanicus as his heir (Drusus son). Tiberius also shared his adoption with Agrippa Postumus.
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Augustus dies, Livia is thought to have murdered him, however some records show her and him having a special moment before he dies racognizing their love. Livia does not announce her husbands death untill after the army surrounding Augustus house pledge their alligence to Tiberious. Augustus names Tiberius his heir in his will, he also adopts Livia as his daughter and gives her the title Augusta. Livia is then known as Julia Augusta. He also bars his exiled daughter from his family mauselum.
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Agrippa Postumus dies. No one knows how, it is thought that Livia or Tiberius had him killed to secure the principate.
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Augustus gives Livia the title Augusta, which could mean that he wanted her to rule with her son or he was just honoring her. Livia took it as an honor, but was so used to being a part of the political process with her husband that she was constantly trying to help Tiberius. Tiberius was fed up with his mother sticking her nose in and refused the senate to give her any more honors.
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Tiberius refuses the senates grant of the title son of Livia. He wanted to get as far away from the idea that she was the reason he was preator as possible.
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Livia tries to help a friend, the friend seeks refuge with Livia. The person accusing her goes to Livia's home with Tiberius. Tiberius ensures that Livia can show off her power, justice is served, and his power isn't overshaddowed.
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Tiberius retires for the second time, however still holds the preatorship. He writes letters, but lets others control what happens. He refuses to visit his mother on her death bed. he also refuses to attend Livia's funeral
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Livia rarely gets ill, she gets ill once in her old age, and an illness is eventually her cause of death.
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Tiberius refuses the senates request for Livia to be deified. He also completly ignores her will and grants no honors to her. She is burried in Augustus Mauselerum, with little to no extravagance.
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Livia's grandson grants her deification officially. Many provinces already thought of her as being a godess, but now it was official. Her deification was granted by her grandson Claudius.
