Julia Flavia

Julia Flavia hairstyle, Terracotta made in Smyrna, c. 90 - Louvre

Julia Flavia ( – 91) or Flavia Julia, nicknamed Julia Titi, was the daughter of Roman Emperor Titus and his first wife Arrecina Tertulla. Julia Titi gained the title Augusta at her father's accession in 79.

Biography Early life Julia was born in Rome to Titus and Arrecina Tertulla, she was named for Tertulla's mother Julia Ursa. Her mother was either divorced or died when Julia was an infant. Her father later remarried to Marcia Furnilla with whom he had another daughter who is presumed to have died young. In 65, after the failure of the Pisonian conspiracy, the family of Furnilla was disfavored by Nero. Julia's father, Titus concluded that he did not want to be connected with any potential plotters and ended his marriage to Julia's step-mother. Julia was likely raised by her maternal grandmother and the wet nurse Phyllis (who had already reared Julia's uncle Domitian as a child).

Later life After the death of her husband Julia lived in the palace with her uncle and his wife Domitia Longina.

Ancient historians report stories that Julia was seduced by her uncle and died having an abortion forced upon her by him, for example Dio claimed that he "lived with [her] as husband with wife, making little effort at concealment. Then upon the demands of the people he became reconciled with Domitia, but continued his relations with Julia nonetheless." and Juvenal stated "such a man was that adulterer [i.e. Domitian] who, after lately defiling himself by a union of the tragic style, revived the stern laws that were to be a terror to all men – ay, even to Mars and Venus – just as Julia was relieving her fertile womb and giving birth to abortions that displayed the likeness of her uncle." but modern historians generally regard this as slander against the emperor and the stories were likely invented after his assassination. Julia was deified after her death and Martial wrote a poem where in he praised her and wished for her to become the spiritual guardian of the (hoped for) future son of Domitian and Domitia whom he wished to be named "Julius" in her honor.

Flavian family tree