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Antonia Gordiana (born 201) was a prominent, wealthy, and noble Roman woman who lived in the troubled and unstable 3rd century.^[1] She was the daughter of Roman emperor Gordian I, sister of Roman emperor Gordian II, and mother of Roman emperor Gordian III.^[2]^[3] The Augustan History names her as Maecia Faustina; however, modern historians dismiss this name as false.^[4] She was most probably born in Rome. Along with her elder brother, she was raised and spent her childhood in the house that Roman Republican general Pompey had built in Rome. Previous owners included Roman triumvir Mark Antony and Roman emperor Tiberius.

After 214, Gordiana married a Roman senator whose name is unknown. The Augustan History names her husband as Junius Balbus, however modern historians dismiss this name as being incorrect. She bore her husband a son on 20 January 225, the future emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius, or Gordian III. The birth name and birthplace of Gordian III are unknown, the name of Gordian was assumed by Gordiana's son when he became emperor. Gordiana's husband died before 238.

After the brief reigns of her father and brother, the Roman Senate in April appointed two senators, Balbinus and Pupienus, as joint emperors. During their brief reign, Gordiana's son became popular with Roman citizens and the joint emperors were forced to adopt the child as their heir. On 29 July 238, Balbinus and Pupienus were both murdered by the Praetorian Guard; later that day her son became the new emperor. There is a possibility that Gordiana might have bribed the Guards to murder the joint emperors, so that her son could become emperor.^{[citation needed]}

To maintain the goodwill of the Senate, Gordian III assumed the name of his maternal grandfather and uncle. The political factions that supported Gordiana's father and brother also supported her son. Through them, she was able to assist her son in directing affairs and together they sought to reform policies covering administration, fiscal affairs, and the Roman army. Efforts were made to limit the taxes on wealthy and notable Romans. Attention was directed to strengthening defences along the empire's borders and Roman governors were prosecuted if they abused Roman taxes and their powers in governing the provinces.

In 241, her son appointed the able and efficient Timesitheus as prefect of the Praetorian Guard. Later, in May of that year, Gordian married Timesitheus’ daughter Tranquillina, who became Roman empress. Timesitheus died in 243, and Gordian appointed the ambitious Philip the Arab as the new prefect. In February 244, Gordian died of unknown causes. Gordian either died in battle or was possibly murdered on the orders of Philip. Philip was then proclaimed the new emperor. Gordian III's wife and daughter survived him. The fate of Gordiana after her son's death is unknown.

Family tree

previous
Maximinus Thrax
Roman Emperor
235–238

Pupienus
Roman Emperor
238

Gordian I
Roman Emperor
238
∞ (?) Fabia Orestilla

Balbinus
Roman Emperor
238

Gordian II
co-emperor
238

Antonia Gordiana

(doubted)
Junius Licinius Balbus
consul suffectus

Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus
praetorian prefect

next
Philip the Arab
Roman Emperor
244–249

Gordian III
Roman Emperor
238

Furia Sabinia Tranquillina

Philip II
Roman Emperor
co-emperor
247–249

Nerva–Antonine family tree

Q. Marcius Barea Soranus

Q. Marcius Barea Sura

Antonia Furnilla

M. Cocceius Nerva

Sergia Plautilla

P. Aelius Hadrianus

Titus
(r. 79–81)

Marcia Furnilla

Marcia

Trajanus Pater

Nerva
(r. 96–98)

Ulpia^[i]

Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus

Flavia^[ii]

Marciana^[iii]

C. Salonius Matidius^[iv]

Trajan
(r. 98–117)

Plotina

P. Acilius Attianus

P. Aelius Afer^[v]

Paulina Major^[vi]

Lucius Mindius (2)

Libo Rupilius Frugi (3)

Salonia Matidia^[vii]

L. Vibius Sabinus (1)^[viii]

Paulina Minor^[vi]

L. Julius Ursus Servianus^[ix]

Matidia Minor^[vii]

Sabina^[iii]

Hadrian^[v]^[x]^[vi] (r. 117–138)

Antinous^[xi]

C. Fuscus Salinator I

Julia Serviana Paulina

M. Annius Verus^[xii]

Rupilia Faustina^[xiii]^[xiv]

Boionia Procilla

Cn. Arrius Antoninus

L. Ceionius Commodus

Appia Severa

C. Fuscus Salinator II

L. Caesennius Paetus

Arria Antonina

Arria Fadilla^[xv]

T. Aurelius Fulvus

L. Caesennius Antoninus

L. Commodus

Plautia

unknown^[xvi]

C. Avidius Nigrinus

M. Annius Verus^[xiii]

Calvisia Domitia Lucilla^[xvii]

Fundania^[xviii]

M. Annius Libo^[xiii]

Faustina^[xv]

Antoninus Pius
(r. 138–161)^[xv]

L. Aelius Caesar^[xvi]

Avidia^[xvi]

Cornificia^[xiii]

Marcus Aurelius
(r. 161–180)^[xix]

Faustina Minor^[xix]

C. Avidius Cassius^[xx]^{[clarification needed]}

Aurelia Fadilla^[xv]

Lucius Verus
(r. 161–169)^[xvi] (1)

Ceionia Fabia^[xvi]

Plautius Quintillus^[xxi]

Q. Servilius Pudens

Ceionia Plautia^[xvi]

Cornificia Minor^[xxii]

M. Petronius Sura

Commodus
(r. 177–192)^[xix]

Fadilla^[xxii]

M. Annius Verus Caesar^[xix]

Ti. Claudius Pompeianus (2)

Lucilla^[xix]

M. Plautius Quintillus^[xvi]

Junius Licinius Balbus

Servilia Ceionia

Petronius Antoninus

L. Aurelius Agaclytus (2)

Aurelia Sabina^[xxii]

L. Antistius Burrus (1)

Plautius Quintillus

Plautia Servilla

C. Furius Sabinus Timesitheus

Antonia Gordiana

Junius Licinius Balbus?

Furia Sabina Tranquillina

Gordian III
(r. 238–244)

(1) = 1st spouse
(2) = 2nd spouse
(3) = 3rd spouse
  Reddish-purple indicates emperor of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty
  lighter purple indicates designated imperial heir of said dynasty who never reigned
  grey indicates unsuccessful imperial aspirants
  bluish-purple indicates emperors of other dynasties
dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships
Small Caps = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)

Notes:

Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.

^ Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
^ Giacosa (1977), p. 8.
^ ^a ^b Levick (2014), p. 161.
^ Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161.
^ ^a ^b Giacosa (1977), p. 7.
^ ^a ^b ^c DIR contributor (Herbert W. Benario, 2000), "Hadrian".
^ ^a ^b Giacosa (1977), p. 9.
^ Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161.
^ Smith (1870), "Julius Servianus".
^ Smith (1870), "Hadrian", pp. 319–322.
^ Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p. 99 and passim; deification: Lamber (1984), pp. 2–5, etc.
^ Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Levick (2014), p. 163.
^ It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Levick (2014), p. 162.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Levick (2014), p. 164.
^ Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
^ Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Giacosa (1977), p. 10.
^ The epitomator of Cassius Dio (72.22) gives the story that Faustina the Elder promised to marry Avidius Cassius. This is also echoed in HA "Marcus Aurelius" 24.
^ Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164.
^ ^a ^b ^c Levick (2014), p. 117.

References:

DIR contributors (2000). "De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families". Retrieved 2015-04-14.
Giacosa, Giorgio (1977). Women of the Caesars: Their Lives and Portraits on Coins. Translated by R. Ross Holloway. Milan: Edizioni Arte e Moneta. ISBN 0-8390-0193-2.
Lambert, Royston (1984). Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. New York: Viking. ISBN 0-670-15708-2.
Levick, Barbara (2014). Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-537941-9.
Smith, William, ed. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

References

^ Verhaart, Floris (2022-07-03). "Jean-Baptiste Du Bos and the Réflexions critiques sur la poésie et sur la peinture within the context of contemporary philology and antiquarianism". Intellectual History Review. 32 (3): 411–428. doi:10.1080/17496977.2022.2097401.
^ D’Amato, Raffaele (2020-01-23). Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (2): AD 192–500. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-3650-2.
^ Navarra, James (2018-08-17). A Compendium of the Earth, and of the People of the Earth, and of the Wars They Fought. Balboa Press. ISBN 978-1-9822-0990-2.
^ Syme, Ronald (1971). Emperors and Biography: Studies in the 'Historia Augusta'. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-814357-4.

Sources

[5] Sister of Trajan's father: Giacosa (1977), p. 7.

[giac8-6] Giacosa (1977), p. 8.

[lev161-7] Levick (2014), p. 161.

[8] Husband of Ulpia Marciana: Levick (2014), p. 161.

[giac7-9] Giacosa (1977), p. 7.

[DIR_hadrian-10] DIR contributor (Herbert W. Benario, 2000), "Hadrian".

[giac9-11] Giacosa (1977), p. 9.

[12] Husband of Salonia Matidia: Levick (2014), p. 161.

[Smith_Servianus-13] Smith (1870), "Julius Servianus".

[Smith_1870a_p._319-14] Smith (1870), "Hadrian", pp. 319–322.

[15] Lover of Hadrian: Lambert (1984), p. 99 and passim; deification: Lamber (1984), pp. 2–5, etc.

[16] Husband of Rupilia Faustina: Levick (2014), p. 163.

[lev163-17] Levick (2014), p. 163.

[18] It is uncertain whether Rupilia Faustina was Frugi's daughter by Salonia Matidia or another woman.

[lev162-19] Levick (2014), p. 162.

[lev164-20] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Levick (2014), p. 164.

[21] Wife of M. Annius Verus: Giacosa (1977), p. 10.

[22] Wife of M. Annius Libo: Levick (2014), p. 163.

[giac10-23] Giacosa (1977), p. 10.

[24] The epitomator of Cassius Dio (72.22) gives the story that Faustina the Elder promised to marry Avidius Cassius. This is also echoed in HA "Marcus Aurelius" 24.

[25] Husband of Ceionia Fabia: Levick (2014), p. 164.

[lev117-26] Levick (2014), p. 117.

[1] Verhaart, Floris (2022-07-03). "Jean-Baptiste Du Bos and the Réflexions critiques sur la poésie et sur la peinture within the context of contemporary philology and antiquarianism". Intellectual History Review. 32 (3): 411–428. doi:10.1080/17496977.2022.2097401.

[2] D’Amato, Raffaele (2020-01-23). Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (2): AD 192–500. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-3650-2.

[3] Navarra, James (2018-08-17). A Compendium of the Earth, and of the People of the Earth, and of the Wars They Fought. Balboa Press. ISBN 978-1-9822-0990-2.

[4] Syme, Ronald (1971). Emperors and Biography: Studies in the 'Historia Augusta'. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-814357-4.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[i]

[ii]

[iii]

[iv]

[v]

[vi]

[vii]

[viii]

[ix]

[x]

[xi]

[xii]

[xiii]

[xiv]

[xv]

[xvi]

[xvii]

[xviii]

[xix]

[xx]

[xxi]

[xxii]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Daughter of emperor Gordian I (born 201)}}
 {{Year of Six Emperors}}
-'''Antonia Gordiana''' (201 - ?) was a prominent, wealthy and noble Roman woman who lived in the troubled and unstable 3rd century. She was the daughter of [[Roman Emperor]] [[Gordian I]]; sister to Roman Emperor [[Gordian II]] and mother to Roman Emperor [[Gordian III]]. Gordiana’s mother may be the granddaughter of [[Greece|Greek]] Sophist, consul and tutor [[Herodes Atticus]].
+'''Antonia Gordiana''' (born 201) was a prominent, wealthy, and noble Roman woman who lived in the [[Crisis of the Third Century|troubled and unstable 3rd century]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Verhaart |first=Floris |date=2022-07-03 |title=Jean-Baptiste Du Bos and the Réflexions critiques sur la poésie et sur la peinture within the context of contemporary philology and antiquarianism |journal=Intellectual History Review |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=411–428 |doi=10.1080/17496977.2022.2097401|doi-access=free }}</ref> She was the daughter of [[Roman emperor]] [[Gordian I]], sister of Roman emperor [[Gordian II]], and mother of Roman emperor [[Gordian III]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=D’Amato |first=Raffaele |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lGCWDwAAQBAJ&dq=antonia+gordiana&pg=PT96 |title=Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (2): AD 192–500 |date=2020-01-23 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-3650-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Navarra |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LeFqDwAAQBAJ&dq=antonia+gordiana&pg=PT45 |title=A Compendium of the Earth, and of the People of the Earth, and of the Wars They Fought |date=2018-08-17 |publisher=Balboa Press |isbn=978-1-9822-0990-2 |language=en}}</ref>
-[[Augustan History]] names her as ''' Maecia Faustina''', however modern historians dismiss her name as false. She was most probably born in Rome. Along with her elder brother were raised and spent their childhoods in the house that Roman Republican General [[Pompey]] had built in [[Rome]]. Previous owners included Roman Triumvir [[Mark Antony]] and Roman Emperor [[Tiberius]].
+The ''[[Augustan History]]'' names her as ''' Maecia Faustina'''; however, modern historians dismiss this name as false.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Syme |first=Ronald |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mmlfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22antonia+gordiana%22 |title=Emperors and Biography: Studies in the 'Historia Augusta'. |date=1971 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=978-0-19-814357-4 |language=en}}</ref> She was most probably born in [[Rome]]. Along with her elder brother, she was raised and spent her childhood in the house that Roman Republican general [[Pompey]] had built in Rome. Previous owners included Roman [[triumvir]] [[Mark Antony]] and Roman emperor [[Tiberius]].
-After 214, Gordiana married an unnamed Roman Senator. Augustan History names her husband as [[Junius Licinius Balbus|Junius Balbus]], however modern historians dismiss his name as false. She bore her husband a son, Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius (known as Gordian III), born 20 January 225. The birth name of Gordian III is unknown and his birthplace is unknown. The name of Gordian (as we know him) he assumed when he became Roman Emperor. Her husband had died before 238.
+After 214, Gordiana married a Roman [[Roman Senate|senator]] whose name is unknown. The ''Augustan History'' names her husband as Junius Balbus, however modern historians dismiss this name as being incorrect. She bore her husband a son on 20 January 225, the future emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius, or Gordian III. The birth name and birthplace of Gordian III are unknown, the name of Gordian was assumed by Gordiana's son when he became emperor. Gordiana's husband died before 238.
-After the brief reigns of her father and brother, the Roman Senate in April appointed [[Balbinus]] and [[Pupienus]] as joint emperors. During the brief reign of Balbinus and Pupienus, her son became popular with Roman citizens and the joint emperors were forced to adopt her son as their heir. On July 29 238, Balbinus and Pupienus were both murdered by the [[Praetorian Guard]] and later that day her son became the new Roman Emperor. There is a possibility that Gordiana might have bribed the various Guards to murder the joint emperors, so that her son could become emperor.
+After the brief reigns of her father and brother, the Roman Senate in April appointed two senators, [[Balbinus]] and [[Pupienus]], as joint emperors. During their brief reign, Gordiana's son became popular with Roman citizens and the joint emperors were forced to adopt the child as their heir. On 29 July 238, Balbinus and Pupienus were both murdered by the [[Praetorian Guard]]; later that day her son became the new emperor. There is a possibility that Gordiana might have bribed the Guards to murder the joint emperors, so that her son could become emperor.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
-To keep in the favor of the [[Roman Senate]], Gordian III assumed the name of his maternal grandfather and maternal uncle. The political fractions that supported Gordiana’s father and brother, also supported her son. Through them, she was able assist her son in directing affairs and create reformed policies in administration, fiscal affairs and Roman Army. Effects were made to limit the charges against the Roman wealthy and notable. Attention was made to strengthen defences along the empire’s borders and Roman Governors were prosecuted if they abused Roman taxes and power of the provinces.
+To maintain the goodwill of the Senate, Gordian III assumed the name of his maternal grandfather and uncle. The political factions that supported Gordiana's father and brother also supported her son. Through them, she was able to assist her son in directing affairs and together they sought to reform policies covering administration, fiscal affairs, and the Roman army. Efforts were made to limit the taxes on wealthy and notable Romans. Attention was directed to strengthening defences along the empire's borders and Roman governors were prosecuted if they abused Roman taxes and their powers in governing the provinces.
-In 241, her son had appointed the able and efficient [[Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus|Timesitheus]] as prefect of the [[Praetorian Guard]]. Later, in May of that year, Gordian would marry Timesitheus’ daughter [[Tranquillina]], who became Roman Empress. Timesitheus died in 243, and Gordian appointed the ambitious [[Philip the Arab]] as the new prefect. In February 244, Gordian died of unknown causes. Gordian either died in battle or was possibly murdered on the orders of Philip; however, Philip was proclaimed the new emperor. Gordian’s wife and daughter survived him. The fate of Gordiana after her son’s death is unknown.
+In 241, her son appointed the able and efficient [[Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus|Timesitheus]] as prefect of the [[Praetorian Guard]]. Later, in May of that year, Gordian married Timesitheus’ daughter [[Tranquillina]], who became Roman empress. Timesitheus died in 243, and Gordian appointed the ambitious [[Philip the Arab]] as the new prefect. In February 244, Gordian died of unknown causes. Gordian either died in battle or was possibly murdered on the orders of Philip.  Philip was then proclaimed the new emperor. Gordian III's wife and daughter survived him. The fate of Gordiana after her son's death is unknown.
+==Family tree==
+{{tree chart/start}}
+{{tree chart| Max | | Pup | | Go1 |Max=previous<br>[[Maximinus Thrax]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>235–238|Go1=[[File:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|20px]]<br>[[Gordian I]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238<br><small>∞ (?) Fabia Orestilla</small>|Pup=[[Pupienus]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238}}
+{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|.}}
+{{tree chart| | | | | Bal | | Go2 | | Ant |~| JLB | | GFS | | Phi |Go2=[[File:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|20px]]<br>[[Gordian II]]<br>co-emperor<br>238|Ant=Antonia Gordiana|JLB=''(doubted)''<br>Junius Licinius Balbus<br>consul suffectus|GFS=[[Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus]]<br>praetorian prefect|Phi=next<br>[[Philip the Arab]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>244–249|Bal=[[Balbinus]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238}}
+{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | |!| }}
+{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Go3 |~| Tra | | Ph2 |Go3=[[File:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|20px]]<br>[[Gordian III]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238|Tra=Furia Sabinia [[Tranquillina]]|Ph2=[[Philip II (Roman Emperor)|Philip II]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>co-emperor<br>247–249}}
+{{tree chart/end}}
 {{Nerva-Antonine family tree|state=collapsed}}
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 ==Sources==
@@ Line 19: / Line 32: @@
 * http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=AGRW0295
 * http://gordianiiirpc.ancients.info/reign%20of%20gordian.html
-* ''[[:fr:Continuité gentilice et continuité sénatoriale dans les familles sénatoriales romaines à l'époque impériale (Christian Settipani)|Continuité gentilice et continuité sénatoriale dans les familles sénatoriales romaines à l'époque impériale]]'', 2000
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gordiana, Antonia}}
-[[Category:Ancient Roman women]]
+[[Category:3rd-century Roman women]]
-[[Category:3rd-century Romans]]
-[[Category:3rd-century women]]
 [[Category:201 births]]
 [[Category:Date of death unknown]]
 [[Category:Antonii]]
 [[Category:Gordian dynasty]]
+[[Category:Daughters of Roman emperors]]
+[[Category:Mothers of Roman emperors]]