Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus

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Marcus Valerius Messala Barbatus Messalinus (12 BC - AD 20/21) was a consul of ancient Rome. He was the father of the Roman Empress Valeria Messalina.

He was son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus and Claudia Marcella Minor. His father served twice as consul. His paternal grandfather was the famous orator Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus. His maternal grandparents were consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus and Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus.

Messala Barbatus had married his half first-cousin Domitia Lepida at an unknown date. Their marriage resulted in a son Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus who became consul in 58 and the future empress Valeria Messalina (20-48).

Messala Barbatus became consul in 20. Little is known of his life. One theory of modern historians is that he died of an early death in 20 or early 21. His only sibling was his elder half-sister Claudia Pulchra who had married the Roman general and politician Publius Quinctilius Varus.

[edit] External links

• A possible statue of Messalla Barbatus can be seen at [1]

Preceded by Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus and Lucius Norbanus Balbus

Consul of the Roman Empire together with Marcus Aurelius Cotta Maximus Messalinus 20

Succeeded by Tiberius and Julius Caesar Drusus