Behind the Court

Alongside Augustus, Rome's first emperor, stood his wife, Livia, who is often considered Rome's "first lady". My thesis introduces her life and the political influence she exerted behind the scenes. Indeed, she single-handedly carved out a new role for herself and reinvented her position as the emperor's wife. Livia's impact on Rome's history is considerable, yet the ancient bias against women makes it difficult to reconstruct a detailed account of her life. My research aims to collect such info and assess her impact on Roman politics and society. Furthermore, I elect a comparative methodological approach and move to show similarities between Livia and Eleanor Roosevelt, a modern counterpart who redefined the role of the First Lady, a trailblazer for her time, and an advocate for several causes, including human rights. By comparing these two women's lives, my study seeks to challenge the harsh narratives surrounding Livia and reframe her legacy through comparison with a widely admired political figure.