A good Roman matron was chaste, honorable, and fertile, which last quality marked her as a mother. Roman mothers might have ambitions for themselves or for their sons or for themselves through their sons, since, far more than was true of their Greek counterparts, they could wield political power. Occasionally, a Roman matron put another cause, like Rome itself, above all else.
1. Cornelia - Mother of the Gracchi
After her husband died, Cornelia, known as the "mother of the Gracchi," devoted her life to the upbringing of her children (Tiberius and Gaius) to serve Rome.2. Veturia - Mother of Coriolanus
When Coriolanus was about to lead the Volsci against Rome, his mother, Veturia, went to her son pleading her country's cause and offering to become a hostage, if need be.3. Helena - Mother of Constantine the Great
Unmarried, Helena and Constantius I Chlorus had a son who became the Emperor Constantine. Upon her son's elevation, Helena received the title "Augusta," and may have converted to Christianity for her son's sake. Constantine's mother's famous visit to the East may have been motivated less by religion than by her son's need to appease the natives, who had been angered by Constantine's murder of his wife and son.4. Livia Drusilla - Mother of Tiberius
The wife of Augustus, Livia, behaved in a decorous, Roman, matronly manner. She was given more power than earlier women and was ultimately deified by her grandson Claudius. She served as advisor to her son Tiberius, when Augustus died, but their relationship was estranged, and he refused to return to Rome for her funeral.5. Julia Soaemias - Mother of Elagabalus
Julia Soaemias married Sextus Varius Marcellus, by whom she had numerous children, including Avitus. She helped Avitus overthrow Macrinus in order to become the Emperor Elagabalus. Julia Soaemias was given the title Julia Soaemias Augusta and helped in the administration. She tried to protect her son when he lost favor, but failed, and was killed along with him.6. Agrippina the Younger - Mother of Nero
Agrippina the Younger, great-granddaughter of Augustus, married her uncle Claudius in A.D. 49. She persuaded him to adopt her son Nero in 50. When Nero succeeded his poisoned, adoptive father, he found his mother overbearing and plotted to kill her. Eventually, he succeeded.7. Octavia - Mother and Stepmother to Antony's Brood
In Duces Romanorum, Rose Williams shows why Octavia (69 - 11 B.C.), sister of Augustus and wife of Mark Antony, belongs on this list. This passage shows how saintly this good woman was:Although marriage with a foreign woman was not legal and he had a wife, Octavia, Antony married Cleopatra. Octavian was very angry with Antony because of his sister; this was one of many causes of his war against Antony. After the death of Antony in Egypt, Octavia reared with kindness and love the five children of her marriages with Marcellus and Antony and the children of Antony from his marriages with Fulvia and Cleopatra.
