I, Livia: The Counterfeit Criminal
by Mary Mudd
OMNIBOOK Co.
reviewed by Peter M. Fitzpatrick
“All we have established so far, with regard to Livia’s character, is that she was not a devious, scheming criminal.”
Caesar Augustus is arguably one of the most important historical figures in Western civilization. His wife, Livia, has for centuries been treated by historians, from Tacitus in the ancient world to innumerable contemporary ones, as guilty of dynastic intrigue—using plotting, poisoning, and lies to further her own children’s chances for inheriting the newly formed imperial seat of Rome. In this well-researched and informative redressing of her character, the author attempts to examine the evidence and rehabilitate Livia’s reputation. A detailed biographical sketch of her youth and marriage to Octavian is fleshed out, followed by a critical assessment of the historical record and re-examination of the charges against her character found there. An examination of the “evil stepmother” image’s popularity in the Roman mind is examined. Political motives, such as opposition to the new imperial regime, are also discussed. Logical examination of the timing and geographical location of the death of the various candidates for the inheritance, which there are in fact a disproportionately large number, provide good arguments in Livia’s defense. They simply do not look plausible, either through motive or opportunity. Along the way, interesting details about Roman customs, laws, culture, and politics emerge.
The author states that she has aimed the style and content to appeal to the lay reader who is not versed in classical studies. Still, the complex workings of Roman genealogy and names can be puzzling. A chart of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and an appendix devoted to the genealogy of Livia herself helps understanding in this regard. For those versed in Latin and Greek, she provides footnotes of the original ancient passages that are cited in the text in English. Color photographs of remaining statues of the personages help visualize them for us. A short discussion of the difference between primary and secondary sources precedes an extensive bibliography for those wanting to expand their study. All in all, the result is a historical biography that simultaneously illustrates the similarities and utter strangeness of this foreign world with our own. A much-needed corrective to a long tradition of Livia-bashing, this highly readable text belongs in the hands of history students and general readers interested in the foundations of our society alike.
RECOMMENDED by the USR
I, Livia: The Counterfeit Criminal
by Mary Mudd
OMNIBOOK Co.
reviewed by Peter M. Fitzpatrick
Mudd’s (Studies in the Reign of Constantius II, 1989) laudatory biography aims to set the story straight on Livia Drusilla, Rome’s much-celebrated but historically reviled first empress. For years following her death in A.D. 29, the devoted wife of Roman Emperor Augustus was revered as a subtly powerful, politically cunning arbiter of motherhood and feminism. At a time when women were predominantly uneducated homemakers and mothers, young, ambitious Livia demanded an education and later instilled that drive in her descendants, who included emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Caligula and Nero. But thanks to various historical accounts that portray Livia as domineering and conniving, particularly regarding the suspicious deaths of individuals posing a
threat to her son Tiberius’ reign, Livia is mostly remembered for her supposed malignance. Perhaps chiefly responsible for her infamy today is Robert Graves’ novel I, Claudius (1934), which depicts Livia as a devious, power-hungry matriarch seemingly responsible for every act of malevolence surrounding Tiberius’ ascendancy. After taking issue with what she considers to be Graves’ inaccurate account, Mudd revisited whatever historical sources she could find to reveal the “inescapable discovery…that Livia could not have committed the crimes of which she has stood accused for two millennia.” While Mudd indeed delves deep to make her assertions, she doesn’t do so until nearly halfway through the book. The opening establishes historical context, often with a stream of commas: “His brilliant military strategies had won Octavian’s wars, against Sextus Pompeius, in Illyria, at Actium, and in Alexandria.” These painfully dry sections struggle to cement her thesis; readers might all but forget it until nearly 100 pages in. Frequent digressions, such as discrepancies related to the birthdate of Livia’s second son, further detract from the book’s intentions. But though the beginning suffers from disorganization, Mudd’s objective finally takes shape when she devotes an entire chapter to Livia’s significance as “an active and influential civil servant, the symbol of a new system of government, and eventually a divinity.” Another chapter breaks down each baleful act history credits to her and makes thoughtful suppositions as to why Livia is exempt of them all. In a particularly passionate chapter, “Explaining the Sinister Tradition,” Mudd addresses the widespread misconceptions surrounding Livia’s life, clarifying the credibility of available sources. With each chapter, Mudd’s earnestness snowballs, generating a sense of energy that should spark new interest in an old tale. A corrective biography that starts off slow but eventually rights its wrongs.
I, Livia: The Counterfeit Criminal
by Mary Mudd
OMNIBOOK Co.
History has not been kind to Livia Drusilla, wife of Caesar Augustus, and author Mary Mudd wants to set the record straight in her well-researched book, I, Livia: The Story of a Much Maligned Woman.
“Livia Drusilla has fascinated me ever since, as a geeky, history-obsessed teenager, I read Robert Graves’ [sic] celebrated novel, I, Claudius,” Mudd says. But Graves’s book is also partially responsible for Livia’s historic reputation as a murderess willing to do anything to see her son rise to power. With her research, and knowledge she gained in obtaining a PhD in Roman and Byzantine history, Mudd attempts to disprove these misconceptions.
The meticulous level of research is evident throughout the text. However, a reader with minimal knowledge of Roman history may become perplexed by the number of historical figures presented from the start. Though each person is vital to Livia’s story, confusion comes with the quick pace at which they are introduced. At the end of the text, a chart shows the bloodlines and connections to many of these Roman leaders and their families, but the chart proves slightly unclear due to a muddled layout and limited space. To avoid confusion, Mudd spends the first section of the book narrating Livia’s life—the people she is connected to and the ways she is honored by the people of Rome.
The second section is the most interesting and effective part of the book. In an effort to disprove the claims that Livia murdered anyone who stood in the way of her son’s ascent, the author explains that “scrutiny nevertheless reveals that if Livia perpetrated these tragedies, she wound up worsening conditions for herself and her son.” Mudd takes each accusation against Livia and shows the logic behind why she would not have committed the crime. For example, her two stepsons were killed in their young adulthood; if Livia had murdered them, Mudd asserts, she would likely have done so when they were newborns—the infant mortality rate was very high at that time, so suspicion might never have arisen.
Mudd gives a thorough account of Livia’s relationships with her husband, children, friends, and colleagues, such as Nero, Agrippa, and Julia. This helps solidify the reader’s perception of Livia—that she was, overall, a well-respected and endeared figure: “’[Salome] deferred, not only because … Livia was Caesar’s wife, but because she contributed good advice, in all matters, anyway.’ These words imply that Salome respected Livia as a mentor, in affairs of state, and in private issues as well.”
The author ends with a number of appendices that provide additional information on definitions, historical figures, and art. These pieces are not vital to Mudd’s argument but may help readers better understand the Roman period and the people involved.
In general, this is an interesting read. More attention to punctuation and sentence structure, along with a more methodical introduction of material, would make this an unforgettable book. Mudd’s credentials and the information she presents will win over readers interested in this period of Roman history. But more importantly to the author, readers will see “the living, feeling woman who shared the life and career of the founder of the Roman empire.”
Reviewed by Kandy Alameda