Manlia Scantilla (fl. 193) was a Roman woman who lived in the 2nd century. She was very briefly Roman Empress as wife to the Roman Emperor Didius Julianus. Her name indicates that she was born into the gens Manlia, which if correct, indicates an illustrious patrician ancestry; however, she may have been descended from a freed slave belonging to a member of that gens.
Manlia Scantilla married the general Didius Julianus before his succession. Around 153, she bore Julianus a daughter and only child Didia Clara, who was known for her beauty. Apparently Scantilla was extremely ugly, due to an unknown deformity.
Her husband became emperor on 28 March 193. On that day, Scantilla and her daughter, were awarded the title of Augusta by a decree of the Roman Senate. Scantilla enjoyed her short lived title and status for less than three months. Her husband was killed on 1 June 193. The new emperor Septimius Severus, removed her status and title as Augusta, but gave Manlia Scantilla and her daughter the former emperor's body for burial. The two women buried Julianus in a tomb alongside his great-grandfather, outside of Rome. Within a month of Severus’ accession to the throne, Scantilla died in obscurity. The fate of her only child Didia Clara is unknown.
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Flavia Titiana |
Empress of Rome 193 |
Succeeded by Julia Domna |