Marcia Furnilla was a Roman woman that lived in the 1st century. Furnilla was the second and last wife of the future Roman Emperor Titus.

Contents 1 Family 2 Life 3 External links 4 Sources

[edit] Family

Marcia Furnilla came from a noble and distinguished family. She was from the Patrician gens Marcius, which claimed descent from Roman King Ancus Marcius. She was a daughter of Quintus Marcius Barea Sura and the cognomen Furnilla is probably a cognomen from her maternal ancestry. Her sister perhaps was Marcia, mother of future Roman Emperor Trajan. Her father was a friend to future Roman Emperor Vespasian (who was Titus’ father) and paternal uncle was the Roman Senator Quintus Marcius Barea Soranus, while her paternal cousin was the noble woman Marcia Servilia Sorana.

Furnilla’s paternal grandfather was Quintus Marcius Barea, who was Suffect Consul in 26 and was twice Proconsul of the Africa Province. Barea during his time in Africa he was based in Leptis Magna. Barea was an influential person in the African Province and had dedicated a temple in Leptis Magna, to the ‘Dei Augusti’ or ‘The August Gods’.

[edit] Life

Marcia Furnilla may have been born and raised in Rome. She married Titus, widowed from his first marriage, in 63. No doubt Titus's and Furnilla's parents arranged this marriage.

This marriage for Titus was an influential one and promoted his political career. Suetonius describes Furnilla as a ‘very well-connected’ woman. On September 17, 64, Furnilla bore Titus a daughter (and only child), Flavia Julia Titi or Julia Flavia in Rome.

Like Titus’ first marriage, this marriage was short. Furnilla’s family was connected to the opponents of Roman Emperor Nero. In 65 after the failure of the Pisonian conspiracy, Furnilla’s family was disfavored by Nero. Titus considered he didn’t want to be connected with any potential plotters and ended his marriage to Furnilla. Titus and Furnilla divorced and Titus raised their daughter. The fate afterwards of Furnilla is unknown.

[edit] External links

• Statue of Marcia Furnilla, see section 6. Flavian Women, statue J.

[edit] Sources

• Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Titus
• http://www.roman-emperors.org/titus.htm
• www.livius.org/le-lh/lepcis_magna/lepcis02.html
• www.livius.org/le-lh/lepcis_magna/theater2.html
• http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/titus.html
• http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0472.html
• http://www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/7094/titus1.html