Individual Details
Aurelia Cotta
(21 May 120 BC - 31 Jul 54 BC)
The historian Tacitus considers her an ideal Roman matron and thinks highly of her. Plutarch describes her as a "strict and respectable" woman. Highly intelligent, independent and renowned for her beauty and common sense, Aurelia was held in high regard throughout Rome.
Aurelia and her family were very influential in her son’s upbringing and security. Her husband, the elder Gaius Caesar, was often away, so the task of raising their son fell mostly on Aurelia's shoulders. When the younger Caesar was about 18, he was ordered by the then dictator of Rome, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, to divorce his young wife Cornelia Cinna, Cinna's daughter. Young Caesar firmly refused, and by so doing, put himself at great risk from Sulla. Aurelia became involved in the petition to save her son, defending him along with her brother Gaius Cotta.
During the Bona Dea festival, held at Caesar’s house her maid discovered Publius Clodius disguised as a woman, ostensibly in order to start or continue an affair with her second daughter-in-law Pompeia Sulla. Although Caesar himself admitted her possible innocence, he divorced her shortly after stating that his wife must be above suspicion.
After her first daughter-in-law Cornelia Cinna minor died young, Aurelia raised her young granddaughter Julia Caesaris in her stead and presided as mistress over her son's households.
Aurelia and her family were very influential in her son’s upbringing and security. Her husband, the elder Gaius Caesar, was often away, so the task of raising their son fell mostly on Aurelia's shoulders. When the younger Caesar was about 18, he was ordered by the then dictator of Rome, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, to divorce his young wife Cornelia Cinna, Cinna's daughter. Young Caesar firmly refused, and by so doing, put himself at great risk from Sulla. Aurelia became involved in the petition to save her son, defending him along with her brother Gaius Cotta.
During the Bona Dea festival, held at Caesar’s house her maid discovered Publius Clodius disguised as a woman, ostensibly in order to start or continue an affair with her second daughter-in-law Pompeia Sulla. Although Caesar himself admitted her possible innocence, he divorced her shortly after stating that his wife must be above suspicion.
After her first daughter-in-law Cornelia Cinna minor died young, Aurelia raised her young granddaughter Julia Caesaris in her stead and presided as mistress over her son's households.
Events
| Birth | 21 May 120 BC | ||||
| Death | 31 Jul 54 BC | ||||
| Marriage | Gaius Julius Caesar III |
Families
| Spouse | Gaius Julius Caesar III (-140 - ) |
| Child | Julia Caesaris Minor (-105 - ) |
| Father | Lucius Aurelius Cotta (-162 - ) |
| Mother | Rutilia (-140 - ) |