Emperor's Daughter Dies In Childbirth

Julius Caesar's only child, Julia Caesaris, has died giving birth.

Caesaris' husband, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, is devastated by the loss. Magnus is a friend of Caesar.

Julia Caesaris, wife of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, was the only child of politician Julius Caesar. She has died in childbirth this week (54 BC), after only five years of marriage. As she was the daughter of such a famous leader as Julius Caesar, she will have a state funeral.

Along with Crassus, Pompey is Julius Caesar's close political friend. He got rid of the pirates in the Mediterranean and made it safe. He was 47 years old when he got married.

Julia was Pompey's fourth wife and he adored her. He stayed at home with her rather than take part in public life. A lot of people thought he was wet because he loved to be with Julia.

Roman society allows girls to marry at about 14 years old. Marriages are arranged to benefit the family as a whole. The girl's family pay a dowry to her new family. This is returned if her husband dies or the couple get divorced, so the girl can possibly marry again. Marriages have to be held on special days.

The bride's house is usually decorated with flowers and greenery. The bride has her hair done and she wears a special white woollen gown and flame-coloured veil. There is a legal ceremony, then a feast. After the wedding feast there is a procession to take the bride to her new house. People in the procession sing wedding songs and carry torches. The new bride's spinning tools come with her. She anoints the door with oil and strands of wool and is carried over the threshold.

As a married woman, called a matrona, she could be in a mansion with lots of her husband's family plus their slaves if she is rich. If she is poor she will have to do all the housework herself. She is in charge of the keys to the house and would be expected to run it well.

Women are expected to have children and are respected if they look after them properly. Sadly a lot of children don't survive to live as adults, and some women, like Julia, die having their babies.