Calpurnia

 A few words about Calpurnia, Caesar's wife.

The post was prompted by comments I saw on YouTube. Comments claiming that Caesar married Cleopatra and intended for their son to rule the world. Apart from being beyond ridiculous, I also feel they are unfair to Calpurnia's place in Caesar's life. So here we are.

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1. We know that Caesar married Calpurnia for purely political reasons: to strengthen his ties with her father, Lucius Calpurnius Piso. Throw in a big age difference and the fact that Caesar left for Gaul a few months later, and it's safe to assume that they didn't spend any quality time together.

Five years later, Caesar contemplated divorcing Calpurnia to forge another marriage alliance with Pompey. But Pompey refused the offer.

2. As the civil war broke out, there was not a single mention of Calpurnia during this time. But that's kind of telling in its own way.

At this point, she has been married to Caesar for a decade. A decade that he spent far away in Gaul. And yet, there is not a single piece of gossip about her. No talks of infidelity or any other scandalous behavior. Caesar's enemies would've relished in it. But Calpurnia's conduct has been impeccable. Caesar is running all over the empire putting out fires, but if there is one area in his life that won't give him even the slightest headache, it's his marriage.

3. Numerous sources tell us that on the day Caesar was killed, Calpurnia begged him to stay at home.

For example, Nicolaus of Damascus: "…on that day his friends, drawing conclusions from certain auguries, tried to prevent him from going to the Senate Room, as did also his physicians on account of vertigoes to which he was sometimes subject, and from which he was at that time suffering; and especially his wife Calpurnia, who was terrified by a dream that night. She clung to him and said that she would not let him go out on that day."

At first, Caesar agreed, but Decimus Brutus persuaded him to go.

4. Unlike the start of their marriage, there are indications that during this period they were a proper husband and wife:

a) The above story shows her affection for him. b) Caesar made a provision in his will for a son that might be born after his death. So not only did they share a bed, but he had no objections to Calpurnia being the mother of his child. c) Plutarch also mentions that this was a usual thing: "while he was sleeping as usual by the side of his wife."

Speaking of point B… A hypothetical legitimate son receives more thought and care than the living illegitimate one, who is not acknowledged in any way. This speaks volumes. Caesarion, an illegitimate non-Roman child, could not and would not inherit anything. Whatever affection Caesar may have felt for Cleopatra, he did not put her above Rome, naming Octavian as his son and heir.

Calpurnia remained Caesar's wife. She brought peace and quiet into his otherwise hectic life. That's something he could appreciate.

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"A little later, three slaves, who were nearby, placed the body on a litter and carried it home through the forum, showing, where the covering was drawn back on each side, the hands hanging limp and the wounds on the face. Then no one refrained from tears, seeing him who had lately been honoured like a god. Much weeping and lamentation accompanied them from either side, from mourners on the roofs, in the streets, and in the vestibules. When they approached his house, a far greater wailing met their ears, for his wife rushed out with a number of women and servants, calling on her husband and bewailing her lot in that she had in vain counselled him not to go out on that day. But he had met with a fate far worse than she ever expected." – Nicolaus of Damascus