A captivating popular history that shines a light on the notorious Julio-Claudian women who forged an empire
Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nerosdash;these are the names history associates with the early Roman Empire. Yet, not a single one of these emperors was the blood son of his predecessor. In this captivating history, a prominent scholar of the era documents the Julio-Claudian women whose bloodline, ambition, and ruthlessness made it possible for the emperorsosquo; line to continue.
Eminent scholar Guy de la Bédoyère, author of Praetorian, asserts that the women behind the scenestdash;including Livia, Octavia, and the elder and younger Agrippinafdash;were the true backbone of the dynasty. De la Bédoyère draws on the accounts of ancient Roman historians to revisit a familiar time from a completely fresh vantage point. Anyone who enjoys I, Claudius will be fascinated by this study of dynastic power and gender interplay in ancient Rome.
