Pompeia Plotina
Who was Pompeia Plotina?
Roman Empress as the wife of Emperor Trajan
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Pompeia Plotina (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Pompeia Plotina was born around 70 CE in Nemausus, now known as Nîmes, in what was then Gallia Narbonensis. She married Marcus Ulpius Traianus, who would become Emperor Trajan. When Trajan took the throne in 98 CE after Emperor Nerva's death, Plotina became the Roman Empress. She remained in this role until Trajan died in 117 CE. Even after his death, she stayed active in Roman intellectual and political life until she passed away in 121 or 122 CE.
Plotina stood out in antiquity for her admirable qualities. Ancient texts highlight her virtue, dignity, and simplicity. When she entered the imperial palace for the first time, she reportedly told the crowd she hoped to leave the palace unchanged. Her modesty and restraint were often praised, as she avoided the showiness typical among people of her status.
Known for her intellectual pursuits, Plotina was a passionate follower of Epicurean philosophy. She maintained a close relationship with the Epicurean school in Athens, supporting and corresponding with its leaders. She successfully persuaded Emperor Hadrian, Trajan’s successor, to let non-Roman citizens lead the Athenian Epicurean school, greatly increasing its accessibility. Her involvement in philosophy was uncommon for a Roman empress, showing her strong commitment to Epicurean ideas.
Beyond philosophy, Plotina supported social improvements during Trajan’s reign. She advocated for fairer taxes and better education for Roman citizens. Her focus on helping the poor and promoting tolerance in Roman society earned her a strong reputation during her lifetime and after. Coins featuring her image were created while she was alive. After her death, Hadrian, who greatly admired her, had her deified and built a temple in her honor in Nîmes.
The connection between Plotina and Hadrian has been widely discussed. Some ancient texts hint that she played a key role in Hadrian’s adoption by Trajan and his succession to the throne, though historians debate the details. What is certain is Hadrian deeply mourned her death and honored her by writing her funeral speech and commissioning monuments in her memory.
Before Fame
Pompeia Plotina was born around 70 CE in Nemausus, a bustling Roman city in southern Gaul, now Nîmes, France. Not much is known about her family or early life, which is common for Roman women of her time, as ancient historians rarely detailed their beginnings. Nemausus was a lively city and part of Roman provincial culture, and Plotina likely grew up with Roman aristocratic traditions, receiving an education that sparked her interest in philosophy.
Her rise to prominence came through her marriage to Trajan, likely before his significant rise in the Roman military and political world. When Nerva adopted Trajan as his successor in 97 CE and Trajan became emperor the following year, Plotina stepped into the heart of Roman imperial life. She wasn't a passive figure; instead, she built a public reputation based on intellectual depth and strong personal morals, which set her apart in an imperial court that previously saw many scandals and excesses.
Key Achievements
- Served as Roman Empress from 98 to 117 CE and was renowned throughout the empire for personal virtue and philosophical commitment
- Successfully petitioned Emperor Hadrian to allow non-Roman citizens to lead the Epicurean school in Athens, broadening the school's accessibility
- Advocated for fairer taxation, improved education, and greater assistance for the poor during the Trajanic era
- Was deified after her death by Emperor Hadrian, who also personally composed her funeral oration
- Promoted tolerance and social reform within Roman imperial society, leaving a reputation that outlasted her own lifetime by centuries
Did You Know?
- 01.Upon entering the imperial palace for the first time as empress, Plotina reportedly turned to the watching crowd and declared her intention to leave the palace exactly as she had entered it, a public statement of personal humility that was recorded and praised by ancient writers.
- 02.Plotina successfully petitioned Emperor Hadrian to permit non-Roman citizens to head the Epicurean school in Athens, a specific policy change that expanded the school's leadership beyond Roman nationals.
- 03.After her death, Hadrian wrote her funeral oration personally, an honor that reflected his deep personal regard for her, and he arranged for her deification, placing her among the honored dead of the Roman state.
- 04.Hadrian constructed a temple dedicated to Plotina in her birthplace of Nîmes, linking her posthumous veneration directly to the provincial city where she was born.
- 05.Plotina maintained an active written correspondence with the leaders of the Athenian Epicurean school, making her one of the few Roman imperial figures documented to have engaged directly and personally with a philosophical institution abroad.