The Women of the Caesars

Marriage, property, and political influence connect the lives of Rome's imperial women in Guglielmo Ferrero's historical study. Its opening examines the position of upper-class women during the late republic, including their education, public appearances, and control of wealth. Ferrero explains how different marriage arrangements and legal devices affected a woman's independence. Chapters on Livia, Julia, Agrippina, and Messalina then place prominent women within the family relationships and political pressures surrounding the Caesars.

The discussion of Tiberius shows an aging ruler burdened by responsibility and mistrust, while his son Drusus and the guard commander Sejanus gain influence. Opposition associated with Agrippina reveals how disputes within the ruling family could shape public affairs. The book offers readers of ancient history a biographical approach to power, with attention to household interests, social customs, and competing accounts of imperial reputations.