Claudia Pulchra (14 BC-26 AD) was a Roman Woman.
She was daughter to Aemilius Lepidus Paullus and Claudia Marcella Minor. Her maternal grandparents were Gaius Claudius Marcellus and Octavia, sister of Caesar Augustus. Her father died about a year after her birth. Her mother was remarried to Marcus Valerius Messala Messallinus, son to Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus. Her only sibling was her younger half-brother Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus. He would later become father of Valeria Messalina, third wife of Roman Emperor Claudius.
She became the second wife of Roman General and Politician Publius Quinctilius Varus. He was the widower of Vipsania Marcella, who was daughter to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Claudia Marcella Major. Vipsania was also granddaughter to Octavia and Gaius Claudius Marcellus.
Pulchra and Varus had a son, a younger Publius Quinctilius Varus. Her husband commited suicide in September 9 AD during the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Germania Inferior. She never remarried.
Pulchra was always a close friend to her second cousin Agrippina the elder. Through her friendship with Agrippina, she became the victim of the intrigues of Aelius Sejanus' treason trials in 26 AD. She was accused of to attempted to poison Tiberius, cast magic, immorality and died in exile. Tacitus considered the trial to be an indirect political attack against Agrippina.
Her son became wealthy through the inheritance of both his parents. In 27, however the younger Varus found himself facing accusations of treason and was formally condemned. His trial has been attributed to the increasing distrust of Tiberius towards his enviroment and the machinations of Sejanus.
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Last updated: 10-15-2005 14:23:24
