Lucilla

Full Name: Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla
Profession: Roman Noblewoman

Biography: Lucilla was a Roman empress and noblewoman. She was the daughter of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Empress Faustina the Younger, and the paternal granddaughter of praetor Marcus Annius Verus.

Lucilla's father arranged her marriage to his co-ruler Lucius Verus in 164, making her a Roman Empress with the title Augusta. The couple had three children: Aurelia Lucilla, Lucilla Plautia, and Lucius Verus, though Aurelia and the son died young.

After Verus' death around 168, Lucilla lost her status as Empress. In 169, her father arranged her second marriage to Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus, a Syrian Roman and political ally, despite objections from Lucilla and her mother. Lucilla gave birth to a son named Pompeianus with Quintianus in 170.

When Commodus became the new emperor after Marcus Aurelius' death in 180, Lucilla's hopes of regaining her status as Empress were dashed. In 182, Lucilla plotted to assassinate Commodus and replace him with Quintianus, involving her daughter Plautia, Quintianus' nephew, and some of her cousins.

The assassination attempt failed, and Commodus ordered the execution of Quintianus' nephew and her cousin Lucilla, her daughter Plautia, and another cousin were banished to the island of Capri and executed later that year when Lucilla was around 33 years old. Lucilla's son Pompeianus was later murdered by the emperor Caracalla.

Lucilla has been depicted in popular culture, including the films "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964) where she was played by Sophia Loren, and "Gladiator" (2000) where she was played by Connie Nielsen.

Born: March 7, 148
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Star Sign: Pisces

Cause of Death: Executed