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Livia

Mother of Rome
By Caitlin C. Gillespie
Series: Ancient Lives
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Brief Description
A bold new portrait of Livia, ancient Rome's first First Lady, who shaped the empire from behind the throne Livia was no ordinary Roman woman. As wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius—the first and second Roman emperors—she stood at the heart of the first imperial... Read More
Format: Hardback
$7400

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A bold new portrait of Livia, ancient Rome's first First Lady, who shaped the empire from behind the throne

Livia was no ordinary Roman woman. As wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius—the first and second Roman emperors—she stood at the heart of the first imperial dynasty, wielding extraordinary influence in a world that denied women formal power. In this vivid biography, Caitlin C. Gillespie reclaims Livia (58 BCE–29 CE) from centuries of scandal and rumored villainy, tracing her journey from elite birth and early traumatic exile through her rise to wealth and influence as the matriarch of the imperial household, the Domus Augusta.

Drawing on literary and archaeological sources, Gillespie explores Livia's inner life through her personal losses, including the death of her son Drusus; her political savvy; and her later life as Julia Augusta, high priestess of Augustus's divine cult. Though she never held an official political position, Livia emerges as a complex figure whose story of ambition, resilience, and maternal power resonates over millennia, captivating audiences from antiquity through today.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300275100

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 21 July 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 1 b-w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 240

Collections

Ancient & Classical History Biography & Memoir Caitlin C Gillespie Education & Reference History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction Political Biographies Politics & Current Affairs Series: Ancient Lives

About the Author

Caitlin C. Gillespie is the Helaine and Alvin Allen Chair in Literature and assistant professor in the Department of Classical Studies at Brandeis University. She is the author of Boudica: Warrior Woman of Roman Britain. She lives in Cambridge, MA.

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