- Caenis
Caenis, a former slave and secretary of
Antonia Minor (mother of the emperorClaudius ), was the mistress of theRoman emperor Vespasian . Suetonius says that after the death of Vespasian's wife Flavia Domitilla, Caenis was his wife in all but name until her death in AD 74. She had a remarkable memory and considerable influence on the emperor's administration, carried out official business on his behalf, and apparently made a lot of money from her position. However, she was treated with disrespect by Vespasian's sonDomitian .Popular culture
The life of Caenis and her love-story with Vespasian is pictured in
Lindsey Davis ' novel "The Course of Honour".ources
*
Suetonius , "Lives of the Twelve Caesars ": " [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Vespasian*.html#3 "Vespasian" 3] , [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Vespasian*.html#21 21] ; [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Domitian*.html#12.3 "Domitian" 12.3]
*Dio Cassius , "Roman History" [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/65*.html#66-14 66.14]
* William Smith (1870), "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology"
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