10 Facts About Lucilla

Lucilla was the wife of her father's co-ruler and adoptive brother Lucius Verus and an elder sister to later emperor Commodus.

In 161, when she was between 11 and 13 years old, Lucilla's father arranged a marriage for her with his co-ruler Lucius Verus.

Lucilla was an influential and respectable woman and she enjoyed her status.

Lucilla spent much time in Rome, while Verus was away from Rome much of the time, fulfilling his duties as a co-ruler.

The change ended any hope of Lucilla becoming empress again and she and Quintianus returned to Rome.

Lucilla was not happy living the quiet life of a private citizen in Rome, and hated her sister-in-law Bruttia Crispina.

Over time, Lucilla became very concerned with her brother Commodus' erratic behaviour and its resulting effect on the stability of the empire.

In light of her brother's unstable rule, in 182 Lucilla became involved in a plot to assassinate Commodus and replace him with her husband and herself as the new rulers of Rome.

Lucilla's co-conspirators included Publius Tarrutenius Paternus the Praetorian prefect, her daughter Plautia from her first marriage, a nephew of Quintianus called Quintianus, and her paternal cousins, the former consul Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus and his sister Ummidia Cornificia Faustina.

Lucilla sent a centurion there to execute them later that year.