{"product_id":"caesars-wives-sex-power-and-politics-in-the-roman-empire-9781416583059","title":"Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire","description":"\u003ch2\u003eCaesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis scholarly work by Annelise Freisenbruch examines the lives of women in Rome's imperial power circles from 30 BC through the fifth century AD. The book moves beyond popular characterizations of Roman women as murderers and adulteresses to reveal their actual political influence during the empire's most significant period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical Coverage and Key Figures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with Cleopatra, Octavia, and Livia at Rome's transition from republic to autocracy, Freisenbruch documents five centuries of female political participation. The narrative includes detailed accounts of Julia, who scandalized her father through public behavior in the Roman forum; Poppea, who influenced imperial decisions including matricide; Domitia, involved in political conspiracy; and Fausta, whose actions led to her execution. The chronicle concludes with Galla Placidia in the fifth century AD during the Gothic invasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAcademic Approach and Research\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFreisenbruch holds a PhD in Classics from Cambridge University, with doctoral research focused on correspondence between Marcus Aurelius and Cornelius Fronto. Her methodology examines primary sources and historical records to distinguish factual accounts from later embellishments. The book analyzes how representations of these women have been refashioned across millennia for political purposes, establishing archetypes of femininity and female power that persist in contemporary politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePolitical and Social Context\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe work documents the intersection of personal relationships and political power in imperial Rome. It reveals how wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of the Caesars participated in succession disputes, policy decisions, and court intrigue. The book examines violence, speculation, and strategic maneuvering that characterized women's paths to influence during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContemporary Relevance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFreisenbruch draws parallels between ancient Roman first ladies and modern political figures, exploring persistent anxieties about women in positions of power. The analysis shows how these historical figures became models of comportment and targets for political opponents, patterns that continue in contemporary political discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnnelise Freisenbruch studied Classics at Cambridge University and has worked as a research assistant on popular history books and BBC documentaries including \u003ci\u003eAncient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire\u003c\/i\u003e. She served as researcher to Bettany Hughes on \u003ci\u003eHelen of Troy\u003c\/i\u003e and teaches Latin in Cambridge. This is her first published book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2011 Free Press paperback edition provides comprehensive documentation of women's roles during the foundational period of Western Civilization, offering new perspectives on the Roman Empire's political history through the lives of its most influential female figures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Free Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680878465298,"sku":"9781416583059","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_62a707b2-8338-4cb5-9272-fecb4a589290.jpg?v=1733944818","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/caesars-wives-sex-power-and-politics-in-the-roman-empire-9781416583059","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}