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AGNIESZKADZIUBA
LOVER,MOTHER,ORSEASONEDPOLITICIAN?THEMYSTERYOFSERVILIA
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Servilia—thedaughterofthedishonoredQuintusServiliusCaepiotheYounger,andLiviaDrusilla,
amemberofarespectedplebeianfamilyandthesisterofMarcusLiviusDrusus,afamedtribunein91BC
—wasaninterestingpersonbyanystandards.Adifficultchildhoodofagirlorphanedearlyinherlife,
therecognitionofherpatricianbackground,andresponsibilityforyoungersiblingsandhalf-siblings—
allshapedherstrongcharacter.Ancienttexts,mainlybyCiceroandPlutarch,butalsomentionsinthe
writingsofNeposandSuetonius,allowustoagreewiththeopinionofSirRonaldSyme,whoarguedthat
shewas“agreatdameofpolitics”.DuringthetumultuousyearsoftheRepublic)sdecline,Serviliawaswell
versedinRomanpoliticsand—accordingtoancientsources—knewhowtoinfluenceit.Formany
years,sheremainedtheloverofGaiusJuliusCaesar,whilestillbeingthebelovedsisterofhisantagonist
—MarcusPorciusCato.Onecanthenassumesheperfectlyunderstoodtheinnerworkingsofthepoliti-
calscene,andinfluencedstatesmendevotedtoher.Thisambitiousnoblewomancarriedherplansoutby
arrangingmarriagesofherchildren.Shecaredforoneofherchildreninparticular—heronlyson,Mar-
cusJuniusBrutus.Shebackedhisadoptionbyherbrother,whichmadetheplebeian-bornBrutusapatri-
cian.ShealsoarrangedhismarriagewiththedaughterofAppiusClaudiusPulcher,thuslyattachingher
sontothepowerfulgensClaudia.AfterCaesar)sassassination,shefiercelyfoughttokeephersonsafe,
usingherconnectionsintheSenate.Servilia)smysteryliesinherambiguousness.Thematron—though
farfrombeinganidealRomanwomanfollowingthemoresmaiorum,withlifefullofinfidelity,givingin
todesires,lackofmodestyandhumility—ispresentedbyancientwritersinfavorablelight.Thepositive
Servilia—alongwiththenegativelyportrayedFulvia—formedaduoofwomenwhomadeagenuine
impactonRomanpolitics,skillfullyfunctioningwithinitsconfinesdespitetherestrictionsimposedby
thecustomsandlegalnormsoftheday.
