Aemilia Lepida

Who was Aemilia Lepida?

Aemilia Lepida was a noble Roman woman and matron. She was the eldest daughter and first-born child of Julia the Younger and consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus. Her father was of a distinguished and ancient patrician family. She was the first great-grandchild of Emperor Augustus, noble woman Scribonia and a great-grandchild of consul Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. Aemilia Lepida had a younger brother named Marcus Aemilius Lepidus who was married to Caligula's favorite sister Drusilla and who died in Caligula's reign.

In her younger years, Lepida was betrothed to Claudius, but her parents fell out of favour with Augustus so the emperor broke off the engagement. In 8, her mother Julia the Younger was exiled for adultery, like her mother Julia. Her father Lucius was executed in 14 for participating in a conspiracy against Augustus.

By AD 13, Lepida had married Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus, a member of the patrician branch of the ancient gens Junia. Their children were:

Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus, consul in 46, put to death in order to ensure the succession of Nero, and to prevent him from avenging the death of his brother, Lucius.