Lucilla, A'nnia
daughter of M. Aurelius and the younger Faustina, was born about A. D. 147. Upon the death of Antoninus Pius, in A. D. 161, she was betrothed to the emperor, L. Verus, who was at that time setting out upon an expedition against the Parthians, and joined her husband at Ephesus three years later.
After his death, which happened in A. D. 169, hastened, according to Capitolinus (
M. Aurel. 100.26), by poison front her hands, she was given in marriage to Claudius Pompeianus, a native of Antioch, who, although of equestrian rank only, was much esteemed on account of his great abilities and high character. Lucilla accompanied M. Aurelius to the East at the period of the rebellion of Avidius Cassius; and after her father's death, was treated with much distinction by her brother, Commodus; but being jealous of the superior honours paid to his empress, Crispina, and eager to get rid of a husband, whom she despised, as far inferior to herself, she engaged in a plot against the life of the prince, which, having been detected, she was banished to the island ot Capreae. and there put to death, about the year A. D. 183.
The story of her having been accessory to the death of Verus rests upon no good evidence, but in general profligacy she seems to have been a worthy descendant of the Faustinae, and a worthy sister to Commodus.
Historians do not expressly mention that she had children by her first husband; yet the legend, FECUNDITAS, which appears upon some of her medals, although the date of these may be uncertain, would lead to the conclusion that their union was not unfruitful; and since the Claudius Pompeianus who undertook to assassinate Commodus is called her son-in-law, it is manifest that the daughter whom he married must have been born of Verus, for the death of Lucilla happened thirteen years only after her second marriage. By Pompeianus she had a son named Pompeianus, who rose to great distinction under Caracalla. [POMPEIANUS.] (
D. C. 71.1,
72.4; Capitolin.
M. Aurel. 7,
Ver. 2; Lamprid.
Commod. 4, 5.)
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W.R]
