Servilia (1st century)

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Marcia Servilia Sorana or commonly known as Sevilia (40s-66) was the daughter of Roman Senator Quintus Marcius Barea Servilius Soranus and by an unnamed Roman woman. Servilia was born of the gens Marcius.

Her paternal grandfather, Quintus Marcius Barea, was Suffect Consul in 26 and was twice Proconsul of the Africa Province. Barea during his time in Africa 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’. Throughout the province, Barea has left various inscriptions. Her paternal grandmother could be related or is from the gens Servilius and her paternal uncle was Quintus Marcius Barea Sura, who was a friend to the future Roman Emperor Vespasian. Her paternal first cousin was Marcia Furnilla (second wife of the future Roman Emperor Titus) and her paternal second cousin was the Roman Princess Flavia Julia Titi.

Servilia had a loving relationship with her father. She had married the Roman Senator Annius Pollio. Annius Pollio was accused of treason in 37, before the death of Roman Emperor Tiberius, but was never brought to trial. He was a close friend to the poet Lucan and the Roman Emperor Nero. In 65 after the failure of the Pisonian conspiracy against Nero, Annius Pollio was accused in taking part in the conspiracy. He was exiled on Nero’s orders.

Tacitus describes Servilia as ‘young and imprudent’. The historian states that Servilia was inconsolable, about her husband and was worried about the fate of her elderly father. In 66, Servilia and Annius Pollio were executed on Nero’s orders on the charge of consulting sorcerers ostensibly to find out her father's fate but in reality with evil designs against the emperor. Servilia’s father had committed suicide on Nero’s orders.

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