Sister of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius
- Marcus Annius Verus (father)
- Domitia Lucilla (mother)
Family | Nerva–Antonine dynasty |
Annia Cornificia Faustina (122/123 – between 152 and 158) was the youngest child and only daughter of the praetor Marcus Annius Verus and Domitia Lucilla. The parents of Cornificia came from wealthy senatorial families who were of consular rank. Her brother was the future Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and both were born and raised in Rome.
History
Early life
Ronald Syme has argued that the element "Cornificia" in her name betrays fantasy and a wish to trace the Anni back to a reputable family Lanuvium", hence why the family picked it instead of a more authentic nomen like Curtilia or Curvia which the family actually had ancestry from.[1]
In 124, the father of Cornificia died and she and her brother were raised by their mother and their paternal grandfather, the Roman Senator Marcus Annius Verus, who died in 138. Relations between her and her brother appeared to be good. Before Cornificia had married, she had settled her paternal inheritance with her brother.
Marriage
Syme identifies her husband as one of the suffect consuls in 146, recorded in the Fasti Ostienses as Gaius Annianus Verus, but whom he claims had the full name of Gaius Ummidius Quadratus Annianus Verus. He was descended from one of the leading aristocratic and politically influential families in Rome and was a direct descendant of the late Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, one time suffect consul.[2]
Cornificia bore Annianus Verus two children:
Nerva–Antonine family tree
Nerva–Antonine family tree |
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- (1) = 1st spouse
- (2) = 2nd spouse
- (3) = 3rd spouse
Reddish-purple indicates emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty lighter purple indicates designated imperial heir of said dynasty who never reigned grey indicates unsuccessful imperial aspirants bluish-purple indicates emperors of other dynasties - dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships
- Small Caps = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)
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Notes: Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree. - ^ Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
- ^ Giacosa (1977), p. 8.
- ^ a b Levick (2014), p. 161.
- ^ Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161.
- ^ a b Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
- ^ a b c DIR contributor (Herbert W. Benario, 2000), "Hadrian".
- ^ a b Giacosa (1977), p. 9.
- ^ Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161.
- ^ Smith (1870), "Julius Servianus".
- ^ Smith (1870), "Hadrian", pp. 319–322.
- ^ Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p. 99 and passim; deification: Lamber (1984), pp. 2–5, etc.
- ^ Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163.
- ^ a b c d Levick (2014), p. 163.
- ^ It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman.
- ^ a b c d Levick (2014), p. 162.
- ^ a b c d e f g Levick (2014), p. 164.
- ^ Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
- ^ Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163.
- ^ a b c d e Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
- ^ The epitomator of Cassius Dio (72.22) gives the story that Faustina the Elder promised to marry Avidius Cassius. This is also echoed in HA "Marcus Aurelius" 24.
- ^ Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164.
- ^ a b c Levick (2014), p. 117.
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References: - DIR contributors (2000). "De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families". Retrieved 2015-04-14.
- Giacosa, Giorgio (1977). Women of the Caesars: Their Lives and Portraits on Coins. Translated by R. Ross Holloway. Milan: Edizioni Arte e Moneta. ISBN 0-8390-0193-2.
- Lambert, Royston (1984). Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. New York: Viking. ISBN 0-670-15708-2.
- Levick, Barbara (2014). Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-537941-9.
- Smith, William, ed. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
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References
- ^ Syme, Ronald (1991). Roman Papers. Vol. VI. Clarendon Press. p. 231. ISBN 9780198144946.
- ^ Syme, "The Ummidii", Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 17 (1968), pp. 98f
Sources
- Marcus Aurelius, by Anthony Richard Birley, Routledge, 2000
- From Tiberius to the Antonines: a history of the Roman Empire AD 14–192, by Albino Garzetti, 1974
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- Augustan History – Marcus Aurelius
External links
- Statue Bust of Annia Cornificia Faustina from a Portuguese Historical Site