Milonia Caesonia (6 - 41 AD), Roman Empress, was a former courtesan with a notorious reputation. She rose from modest origins to become the fourth and last wife of the Roman Emperor Gaius Caligula. She was daughter of Vistilia who came from a family of public prostitutes.
Although Caesonia was no beauty, had two daughters from a previous union, and was at least 10 years older than her new husband, Caligula seems to have genuinely loved her. It would appear most likely that she first came to his attention at one of the numerous brothels or mad parties that Caligula often patronised, both before and after he became Emperor. When he came to the imperial throne around late 37 AD, he moved her into the palace. After two brief marriages to proper Roman noblewomen, each lasting less than a few months, Caligula finally decided to make his favourite Caesonia the Augusta (the title accorded to the Empress) on the condition that she first give him a child. Suetonius states that at Caligula's instigation Caesonia would parade herself naked in front of his troops and select friends. Some sources claim that their only daughter Julia Drusilla (named for her late aunt, Caligula's favourite sister) was born on the same day as the wedding.
Rome was appalled that their new empress was a commoner, and one with a past at that, but Caesonia appears to have won a certain degree of respect by her practicality, her unshockable nature, courage and loyalty to her mad husband, despite the worsening nature of his antics. She seems to have exercised a moderating influence over him, and served as an unofficial adviser. Caligula often wondered why this one woman continued to hold his affections when so many others had rapidly bored him, and sometimes threatened to torture her to find the reason why. Some sources claim that he went mad as a result of a love potion she administered to him to curb his wandering ways, although this seems unlikely as he was already displaying the first signs of irrational behaviour before becoming Emperor.
According to Suetonius Caesonia could see the danger signs among the increasingly outraged Roman public, and attemped to curb his more vicious inclinations by urging him towards justice and toleration. But despite her precautions, her fears were confirmed in 41 AD when Caligula was struck down by assassins while attending a private theatrical performance. In the chaos that followed, the assassins quickly took the palace intent on wiping out the whole imperial family, and both Caesonia and her now three year old daughter were murdered within an hour after Caligula's demise. According to Suetonius she died bravely, telling her killer not to make a mess of it. Young Drusilla, who apparently inherited her doting father's tendency to viciousness, attacked her mother's killer screaming and biting, and had her brains dashed out against a wall.
