Vibia Sabina
Vibia Sabina was a prominent figure in ancient Roman history, born around 85 CE in Spain, likely near Italica. She was the daughter of Matidia and Lucius Vibius Sabinus and married the future emperor Hadrian in 100 CE, a union arranged by Trajan's wife, Plotina. Although Sabina accompanied Hadrian on his travels across the Roman Empire, their relationship was reportedly strained, characterized by a notable lack of affection. Sabina was known for her beauty and was honored in poetry by Julia Balbilla during a visit to Egypt in 130 CE. She passed away in 136 CE under controversial circumstances, with suggestions of poisoning by Hadrian, who had expressed a desire to divorce her if he were not emperor. Despite their troubled marriage, Sabina played a crucial role in Hadrian's rise to power, solidifying his claim as Trajan's heir and contributing to his legacy as one of Rome's significant emperors.
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Vibia Sabina
Related civilization: Imperial Rome
Major role/position: Wife of the emperor Hadrian
Life
Vibia Sabina (sah-BIHN-uh) was born in Spain, probably near Italica, the birthplace of her great-uncle Trajan and was the daughter of Matidia (Trajan’s niece) and Lucius Vibius Sabinus. In 100 c.e., she married Publius Aelius Hadrianus (the future emperor Hadrian). Trajan’s wife Plotina arranged the marriage between Sabina and Hadrian, who had lived with Trajan as his ward since the death of his father when Hadrian was a young boy. Sabina accompanied Hadrian on his travels throughout the empire, but there was little love lost between the two. Sabina was reported as saying that she made sure that she never conceived a child because any offspring of Hadrian would be a monster. Hadrian’s affections were directed primarily toward a young Bithynian named Antinous.
Sabina was renowned for her striking beauty. In 130 c.e., Julia Balbilla carved a poem celebrating Sabina’s beauty into the statue of Memnon in Egypt while Sabina and Hadrian were visiting the province. Sabina died in 136 c.e., reputedly from poisoning by Hadrian, who had once said that he would have divorced her if he had been a private citizen and not the emperor.
Influence
Sabina’s marriage to Hadrian gave him the close familial ties and the legitimacy as Trajan’s heir that he needed to become one of Imperial Rome’s great emperors.
Bibliography
Birley, A. R. Hadrian: The Restless Emperor. New York: Routledge Press, 1997.
Grant, M. The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome, 31 b.c.-a.d. 476. New York: Scribners, 1985.