Marcia (mistress of Commodus)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marcia (birth and death dates unknown) was the cousin and mistress of 2nd century AD Roman Emperor Commodus. She was one of the key conspirators in his assassination led by Praetorian prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus. The reasons why Marcia agreed to take part in the assassination are unclear although she knew that her life was endangered as Commodus was insane and increasingly dangersome and she did not want to undergo the same fate which befell Lucilla.

On the December 31, 192, Marcia gave Commodus a cup of poisoned wine to drink, but the poison failed to kill Commodus, although it did make him extremely sick. Other sources believe that Marcia may have just got Commodus drunk. In any case later on, when Commodus was in a state of debilitation, Marcia admitted co-conspirator Narcissus into Commodus' bedchamber, and he proceeded to strangle Commodus to death.