Domitia Lucilla: Information from Answers.com

Domitia Lucilla, Domitia Lucilla the Younger (Latin: Domitia Lucilla Minor), Lucilla or Domitia Calvilla (? - Died between 155-161) was a noble Roman woman who lived in the 2nd century. She is famous as the mother of the future emperor Marcus Aurelius, and also as the patron of another future emperor, Didius Julianus.

Domitia was a daughter of Calvisius Tullus Ruso and Domitia Lucilla the Elder (Latin: Domitia Lucilla Major). Lucilla the Elder was the daughter of Domitius Tullus, twice consul (the first in 109, the second unknown), and a niece to Lucanus Domitius.

Her father and paternal uncle owned a tile and brick factory near Rome and was close to the river Tiber. The factory provided bricks to Rome’s most famous monuments including the Colosseum, Pantheon and the Market of Trajan. The factory sold bricks to France, Spain, North Africa and all over the Mediterranean.

Lucilla married Marcus Annius Verus, a praetor, who came from a wealthy senatorial family. Verus’ sister Faustina the Elder was a Roman Empress and married the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Verus was a nephew to Roman Empress Vibia Sabina and his maternal grandmother was Salonina Matidia (niece of Roman Emperor Trajan).

With Verus, they had two children, a son, the future Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121) and a daughter Annia Cornificia Faustina (123-152). In 124, her husband died. Her children were raised by herself and they were adopted by her father-in-law. Marcus Aurelius would later inherit the tile and brick factory.

In Lucilla’s household, the future Roman Emperor Didius Julianus was educated there and through her support he was able to start his legal career. Domitia Lucilla was a lady of considerable wealth and influence. In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius describes her as a ‘pious and generous’ person, who lived a simple life (1.3n). She spent her final years living with her son in Rome.