Matidia Minor

Who is Matidia Minor?

Mindia Matidia or Matidia Minor 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. Yet she was a very wealthy, cultured and influential woman.

Trajan gave her a villa where modern Matigge, Italy is now located. Due to this villa, the city became known in Latin as Insula Matidiae. 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. Her generosity was commemorated with a statue here.