Claudia Marcella

Claudia Marcella was the name of both daughters of Octavia the sister of Caesar Augustus, and her first husband, the consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus.

The elder, Claudia Marcella Major (b. 44 BC), was married to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 28 BC to cement a political alliance between Agrippa and her uncle. Their daughter Vipsania Marcella was born in Rome in 27 BC. In 21 BC Agrippa divorced Claudia to marry Augustus' daughter Julia Caesaris. She then married Iullus Antonius, the son of Mark Antony, who was later exiled for adultery with Julia. Their son Lucius Antonius was born in 20 or 19 BC. After Iullus' exile, Claudia married Sextus Appuleius, the consul of AD 14. In AD 17 their daughter Appuleia Varilla was charged with adultery and speaking insultingly about the imperial family. Although she was acquitted, her loved Manlius was banished from Italy and Africa.

Her younger sister, Claudia Marcella Minor (b. 43 BC), was married first to the consul Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. Their daughter Claudia Pulchra was born in 14 BC. After Paullus' death in 13 BC, Claudia married the consul Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus. Through their son, Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus, she was the grandmother of the emperor Claudius' wife Messalina.