History Extra Podcast: "Fulvia: Life of the Week" Summary

Episode Title: Fulvia: Life of the Week
Release Date: April 7, 2025
Host: Jane Dracott
Guest: Spencer Mizzen
Book Mentioned: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome by Jane Dracott

Introduction

In the episode "Fulvia: Life of the Week," host Jane Dracott delves into the extraordinary life of Fulvia, an influential Roman noblewoman who defied traditional gender roles in ancient Roman politics. Through an engaging conversation with Spencer Mizzen, Dracott unpacks Fulvia's significant contributions and the challenges she faced in a male-dominated society.

Early Life and Background [01:11]

Fulvia was born around 80 BCE into two once-prominent Roman noble families that had declined in influence by her birth. Little is known about her early years due to the limited interest of ancient sources in the lives of children, especially girls. Fulvia enters the historical record upon her first marriage to Publius Clodius Pulcher, a notorious populist politician. However, details about her during this period are sparse until Clodius's murder by his rival, Milo.

Fulvia’s Marriages and Political Alliances [01:29 - 15:32]

1. Marriage to Publius Clodius Pulcher:

   • Fulvia's first marriage connects her to Clodius, whose assassination leads to significant unrest in Rome.
   • Upon Clodius's death, Fulvia exhibits her political acumen by displaying his corpse to the public, inciting a riot that seeks revenge against Milo ([01:29]).

2. Marriage to Curio:

   • Fulvia's second marriage to another tribune, Curio, is short-lived due to his untimely death in the civil war between Caesar and Pompey ([01:29]).

3. Marriage to Mark Antony:

   • Fulvia's third marriage to Mark Antony, Caesar's trusted lieutenant, marks her rise to political prominence.
   • Both Fulvia and Antony demonstrate a partnership where Fulvia actively engages in politics and military matters, a rare occurrence for women of her time ([01:29]).

Fulvia’s Political and Military Involvement [15:32 - 24:47]

Fulvia's active role in politics was unprecedented for Roman women. She took on responsibilities typically reserved for men, such as monitoring military loyalty and political maneuvers. When Antony was occupied in the East with Cleopatra, Fulvia managed affairs in Rome, demonstrating her capability and influence.

• Declaration of War on Octavian:

  • Feeling threatened by Octavian's attempts to secure the loyalty of Caesarean soldiers, Fulvia declared war on him, leading to the brief Antonian- Octavian conflict ([08:48]).

• Conflict and Downfall:

  • The war between the Antonian faction, led by Fulvia and Antony's brother Lucius Antonius, and Octavian's forces ends disastrously for Fulvia. She falls ill in Greece and dies, possibly from a broken heart as Antony abandons her in favor of reconciling with Octavian and marrying his sister, Octavia ([08:48], [15:32]).

Challenges and Hostility Faced by Fulvia [17:55 - 21:45]

Fulvia's prominence attracted considerable hostility, both from political adversaries and society at large. Cicero, an adversary of Antony, publicly criticized Fulvia, undermining her reputation. Archaeological evidence, such as inscribed lead sling bullets from the siege of Perugia, indicates that even rank-and-file soldiers harbored animosity towards her ([15:32], [17:55]).

• Cicero’s Attacks:

  • Cicero disparages Fulvia, depicting her as a manipulative and domineering force behind Antony, which contributed to her negative portrayal in historical sources ([17:55]).

• Public Perception:

  • The aggressive messages directed at Fulvia suggest that her influence was so significant that she was perceived as a direct threat to Octavian, akin to Antony's brother, who was a military commander ([15:32]).

Fulvia’s Personal Struggles and Relationships [21:45 - 27:50]

Fulvia's personal life was tumultuous, marked by the deaths of her first two husbands and Mark Antony's infidelity. While Antony's affairs, notably with Cleopatra, strained their marriage, Fulvia's response was to assert her political influence, possibly to reclaim Antony's attention and stabilize their alliance ([21:45]).

• Reaction to Antony’s Affairs:

  • The sources suggest that Fulvia’s declaration of war on Octavian was partly motivated by a desire to distract Antony from his affair with Cleopatra and to reinforce her position as his primary partner ([21:45]).

• Conflict with Octavian:

  • Fulvia's assertiveness posed a challenge to Octavian, who would later become Emperor Augustus. Their relationship was strained, with Octavian portraying her unfavorably in his writings, likely to diminish Antony’s standing ([24:47]).

Fulvia’s Death and Legacy [27:50 - 30:18]

Fulvia's death marked the end of a brief but impactful presence in Roman politics. Her demise prevented the possibility of a united Roman-Egyptian empire under Antony, which could have significantly altered the course of history. Dracott emphasizes Fulvia's legacy as one of the few Roman women with a substantial historical footprint, showcasing her ability to navigate and influence a male-dominated political landscape ([27:50]).

• Historical Significance:

  • Fulvia is noteworthy for being a well-documented Roman woman who actively shaped political events, unlike many of her contemporaries whose lives are scarcely recorded or entirely obscured by their male relatives ([27:50]).

• Speculated Impact of Her Continued Influence:

  • Had Fulvia survived, she and Antony could have leveraged their combined influence to solidify control over both Rome and the Eastern provinces, potentially uniting different regions under a single imperial vision ([27:50]).

Notable Quotes

• On Fulvia’s Political Prowess:

  "She is a very interesting figure in her own right for the things that she does. She's also a very interesting figure for what other people say about her and what she can tell us about this period."
  — Jane Dracott ([07:00])

• On the Risks Fulvia Took:

  "For Fulvia to step outside this sort of allocated space that Roman women had and to try and directly intervene in Roman politics and in Roman military activity as well as she does with the Perusian war, she was risking quite a lot."
  — Jane Dracott ([08:58])

• On Fulvia’s Legacy:

  "Her greatest legacy is that she gives us a Roman woman who we have her name, we have information about her, we have enough to construct an actual life for her."
  — Jane Dracott ([27:50])

Conclusion

Fulvia stands out as a remarkable figure in ancient Roman history, breaking societal norms to engage directly in politics and military affairs. Jane Dracott's exploration of Fulvia's life sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by women who dared to wield power in a restrictive environment. Fulvia's story not only highlights her personal strength and intelligence but also offers valuable insights into the broader dynamics of Roman political life and gender roles.

For further reading, consider Jane Dracott's book: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome published by Atlantic Books.

Note: This summary omits the episode's advertisements and non-content segments to focus solely on the informative discussion about Fulvia.