Matidia Minor

Mindia Matidia or Matidia Minor (Minor Latin for the younger, 85-after 161) was related to several important ancient Roman Emperors. The modern village of Matigge Italy, is named after her.

Matidia Minor was the daughter of Salonina Matidia from her second marriage to the unattested Roman Aristocrat Lucius Mindius. Her mother was a niece to Roman Emperor Trajan. Her half-sister Vibia Sabina, would be future Empress and wife to Roman Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian was also her third cousin.

After her father’s death in 85, Matidia along with her half-sisters lived with their grandmother, mother and were raised in the household of Trajan, his wife Pompeia Plotina and her stepfather. Matidia never received the title of Augusta, nor did she ever marry or have any children (which was unusual at the time). Yet she was a very wealthy, cultured and influential woman.

Trajan gave her a villa where is modern Matigge, Italy. Due to this villa, the city became known in Latin as Insula Matidiae (modern Matigge, Italy). Matidia became competent in her affairs and when her sister became Empress she would often travel with her and her brother-in-law.

Matidia paid for the restoration of the theatre of Sessa Aurunca which was probably damaged by an earthquake during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). Her generosity was commemorated with a statue here.

Matidia lived to an advanced age and outlived most of her relatives. She was very close to her great-nephew, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his family, in her latter years. Marcus Aurelius would sometimes allow his daughters to stay with his great-aunt.

Matidia, like many other childless women, "attracted a number of hangers-on who hoped to be remembered in her will". On her deathbed, they sealed her codicils (additions to her will) assuring their validity and ensuring that they would inherit some of her substantial estate. From her will, various family members and associates received a million Sestertius (an ancient Roman coin currency), her estate and various other items she had. The administrator of the estate was the Empress Faustina the Younger.

Nerva–Antonine family tree

(1) = 1st spouse
(2) = 2nd spouse (not shown)
(3) = 3rd spouse
SMALL CAPS = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)
dotted lines indicate adoption or (in the case of Hadrian and Antinous) alleged lovers