Caenis

Antonia Caenis or Cenide, (died 74 AD) a former slave and secretary of Antonia Minor (mother of the emperor Claudius), was Roman emperor Vespasian's contubernalis.[1][2][3][4]

For the Greek mythological woman who was transformed into a man, see Caeneus. For the genus Mayflies, see Caenis (genus).
Roman imperial dynasties
Flavian dynasty
Chronology
Vespasian 69–79 AD
Titus 79–81 AD
Domitian 81–96 AD
Family
Gens Flavia
Flavian tree
Category:Flavian dynasty
Succession
Preceded by
Year of the Four Emperors		 Followed by
Nerva–Antonine dynasty

Life

It could be thought that she had family in Istria, now in Croatia, based on a trip she took there (Suet. Dom. 12.3). In her 30s Caenis, still possibly a slave, was in an unofficial type of relationship with Vespasian, known as contubernium,[5] before his marriage. According to Suetonius, after the death of Vespasian's wife Flavia Domitilla, Vespasian and Caenis, now a freedwoman, resumed their relationship; she was his wife "in all but name" until her death in AD 74.

She had a remarkable memory and considerable influence on the emperor's administration, carried out official business on his behalf, and apparently made a lot of money from her position.[6] However, she was treated with disrespect by Vespasian's son Domitian, who refused to greet her as one of the family.[7]

The life of Caenis and her love-story with Vespasian is portrayed in Lindsey Davis' novel The Course of Honour. She is also a character who features regularly in Robert Fabbri's Vespasian series, where she is depicted as being the long lost grand-niece of the king of the Caenii, a rebelling tribe in Thracia.

See also

References
  1. "Companion: Caenis". feminaeromanae.org. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  2. Anagnostou-Laoutides, Eva. "Anagnostou-Laoutides, E. and Charles, M.B. 2012. "Vespasian, Caenis and Suetonius," in C. Deroux (ed.), Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History XVI, Bruxelles: Editions Latomus , 530-547". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Acton, Karen (2010-05-12). "Antonia Caenis and the Flavian Dynasty". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1605506.
  4. Lefkowitz, Mary R.; Fant, Maureen B. (2005-08-23). Women's Life in Greece and Rome: A Source Book in Translation. JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8310-1.
  6. (Cassius Dio 66.14)
  7. (Suet. Dom. 12.3)

Sources
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