Sabīna, Poppaea
A woman of surpassing beauty, but licentious morals. She was the daughter of T. Ollius, but
assumed the name of her maternal grandfather, Poppaeus Sabinus, who had been consul A.D. 9.
She was first married to Rufius Crispinus, and afterwards to Otho, who was one of the boon
companions of Nero. The latter
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Poppaea Sabina.
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soon became enamoured of her; and in order to get Otho out of the way, Nero sent him
to govern the province of Lusitania (A.D. 58). Poppaea now became the acknowledged mistress of
Nero, over whom she exercised absolute sway. Anxious to become the wife of the emperor, she
persuaded Nero first to murder his mother Agrippina (A.D. 59), who was opposed to such a
disgraceful union, and next to divorce and shortly afterwards put to death his innocent and
virtuous wife Octavia (A.D. 62). She then became the wife of Nero. In 65 Poppaea, being
pregnant, was killed by a kick from her brutal husband (
Suet.
Nero, 35).
