Early life

Her father was a distinguished senator named Marcus Junius Silanus,^[1] one of emperor Tiberius closest friends.^[3] She was the sister of Junia Silana who was a friend of Caligula's sister Julia Agrippina.^[4] Maxwell Craven has speculated that her mother may have been a Claudia and a relative of Tiberius.^[5] Ronald Syme agrees that Claudilla was likely related to Tiberius, but thinks the descent came from her father.^[6] She was likely also closely related to Appius Junius Silanus through the Claudii Pulchri.^[7]

Marriage

Claudilla was given in marriage to the young prince by his grand-uncle the Emperor Tiberius.^[4] Tiberius reasons for arranging the match is unknown. In terms of succession it made no obvious sense as each of Caligula's brothers had been married off to a cousin within the Julio-Claudian family, adding extra prestige to the men, while Claudilla is not known to have had any such ancestry.^{[lower-alpha 2]} It seems that Tiberius did not consider the possibility of Caligula remarrying one of his brothers widows.^[3] Tiberius may have picked her simply because there were no women of appropriate background for Caligula.^[3] It is also possible that Tiberius arranged the match because it would bring Caligula more under his control due to his new father-in-law being a firm supporter of Tiberius.^[9] Anthony Barrett on the other hand has argued that the marriage implied favour from Tiberius towards Caligula, since it was impressive compared to those of his sisters.^[10] They were married at Antium either in 31 before Sejanus fell from favour^[11] or in 33^[1] when the last of Sejanus supporters were ousted (if it was in 33 then it would likely have been between the second half of July and first half of August).^[12] Tiberius himself attended the ceremony which would have been a rare appearance for him on the mainland (Tiberius preferred to stay on his island during this period).^[13] Claudilla likely accompanied her husband to Capri where the political intrigues were in full force during his youth.^[14]

Death and legacy

Claudilla died when giving birth to Caligula's first child who did not survive either.^[15] The exact date of her death is uncertain but is believed to have been 34,^[16] 36,^[17] or early 37.^[18] The ancient historian Cassius Dio incorrectly states that Caligula divorced her before she died.^[19][20]

It is hard to guess what the marriage would have meant to Caligula^[3] but he seems to have begun an affair with the woman Ennia Thrasylla, the wife of Naevius Sutorius Macro, only after Claudilla's death.^[21][22] Anthony Barrett has speculated that since Dio and Tacitus claim that Macro introduced his wife to Caligula upon Claudilla's death, that it is possible that Macro was taking advantage of the prince's vulnerable state and intended to gain influence by having his wife console the young man.^[14]

Ancient sources claim that Caligula ordered her father to commit suicide to deliver her a message, but the veracity of this claim is doubtful.^[23]

There were no known coins issued of Claudilla, possibly because she died before Caligula became emperor.^[24] There have however been falsified coins purported to be of Claudilla found.^[25]

Roman imperial historian Suetonius for unknown reasons almost entirely omits Claudilla from his account of the emperor's life.^[26] This may have been done because there was little opportunity to paint Caligula poorly during the period. Suetonius's portrayal of his later three marriages includes mentions of adultery, homosexuality and debauchery.^[27] Suetonius even twists Caligula's wife Milonia's fertility as a flaw.^[26]

A flat Sardonyx cameo (numbered 578) from the Marlborough gem collection is described as depicting Junia Claudia.^[28][29]