Messalina, VALERIA — Chambers's Encyclopaedia

Messalina, VALERIA, the daughter of Marcus Valerius Messala Barbatus, and wife of the Roman emperor Claudius, a woman infamous for her avarice, her lust, and her atrocious cruelty. Taking advantage of the weakness and stupidity of the emperor, she played the harlot without restraint, and murdered all who murmured at her gilded shame. The best blood of Rome flowed at her pleasure: among her victims were the daughters of Germanicus and Drusus, Justus Catonius, M. Vinicius, Valerius Asiaticus, and her confederate Polybius. During a temporary absence of the emperor she went so far in open shamelessness as publicly to marry C. Silius, one of her favourites. The blinded emperor's eyes were at last opened by his freedman Narcissus, and he was persuaded to give orders for her execution. She was put to death by Euodus, a tribune of the guards, in the gardens of Lucullus, 48 A.D.