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Appius Silanus.

posted by LockeProposal on TheGrittyPast

[The following is in relation to one of the victims of the Roman Emperor Claudius Caesar’s third wife, Valeria Messalina.]

Appius Silanus was one of the first to experience this firsthand. He had married Messalina’s mother, Domitia Lepida, while at the same time enjoying the friendship of the Emperor Claudius. In fact Silanus was a well-liked man tipped for high office, but disaster struck when the young Messalina made it known that she found him attractive. Spurning her advances, Silanus attempted to explain that he was her stepfather as well as being a close friend of her husband’s. Humiliated, Messalina swore she would have her revenge. She inveigled the help of a servant called Narcissus who told the Emperor of a dream he had had in which Silanus had stabbed Claudius through the heart with a dagger. Adding fuel to the fire, Messalina then told Claudius of a similar dream in which Silanus had attempted to kill the Emperor and thus succeed to the throne himself. Never one to turn his back on signs and portents, Claudius felt he had no option but to have Silanus killed.

Source:

Klein, Shelley. “Valeria Messalina.” The Most Evil Women in History. Barnes & Noble Books, 2003. 38. Print.

Further Reading:

Appius Junius Silanus

Valeria Messalina

Domitia Lepida / Domitia Lepida the Younger / Domitia Lepida Minor

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Tiberius Claudius Narcissus

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[**The following is in relation to one of the victims of the Roman Emperor Claudius Caesar’s third wife, Valeria Messalina.**] >Appius Silanus was one of the first to experience this firsthand. He had married [Messalina](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Hans_Makart_003.jpg)’s mother, Domitia Lepida, while at the same time enjoying the friendship of the [Emperor Claudius](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Claudius_crop.jpg). In fact Silanus was a well-liked man tipped for high office, but disaster struck when the young Messalina made it known that she found him attractive. Spurning her advances, Silanus attempted to explain that he was her stepfather as well as being a close friend of her husband’s. Humiliated, Messalina swore she would have her revenge. She inveigled the help of a servant called Narcissus who told the Emperor of a dream he had had in which Silanus had stabbed Claudius through the heart with a dagger. Adding fuel to the fire, Messalina then told Claudius of a similar dream in which Silanus had attempted to kill the Emperor and thus succeed to the throne himself. Never one to turn his back on signs and portents, Claudius felt he had no option but to have Silanus killed. ___________________________ **Source:** Klein, Shelley. “Valeria Messalina.” *The Most Evil Women in History*. Barnes & Noble Books, 2003. 38. Print. ___________________________ **Further Reading:** [Appius Junius Silanus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appius_Junius_Silanus) [Valeria Messalina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messalina) [Domitia Lepida / Domitia Lepida the Younger / Domitia Lepida Minor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitia_Lepida_the_Younger) [Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius) [Tiberius Claudius Narcissus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Claudius_Narcissus) ___________________________ **If you enjoy this type of content, please consider donating to my [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/HistoryLockeBox)!**

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