| Herennia Etruscilla | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | |||||||||
 Bust of Herennia Etruscilla. | |||||||||
| Empress of the Roman Empire | |||||||||
| Tenure | 249–251 | ||||||||
| Born | Unknown | ||||||||
| Died | c. 253 | ||||||||
| Spouse | Decius | ||||||||
| Issue | |||||||||
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Herennia Cupressenia Etruscilla wasRoman empress as the wife ofEmperorDecius. She was the mother of EmperorsHerennius Etruscus andHostilian.[1]
As with most third-century Roman empresses, very little is known about her.[2] The date and place of her birth are not known for certain. She was probably from a senatorial family ofHerennia gens.[3][4] It is assumed that her ancestors settled inEtrurian lands.[5] Herennia married Decius probably before 230,[5] therefore, Herennia was born in early 3rd century AD. She gained the titleAugusta when Decius became emperor in 249 AD. After the death of both Decius and Herennius Etruscus in theBattle of Abritus,Trebonianus Gallus, the governor ofMoesia, was elected as emperor in June 251 AD.[6]
In order to gain popular support, Trebonianus Gallus retained Herennia Etruscilla asAugusta (empress-mother) and elevatedHostilian toAugustus, making him co-emperor alongside Trebonianus Gallus himself.[7][8][9] Hostilian died in July 251, either from aplague or murder,[7][8] after which Trebonianus Gallus' sonVolusianus, was raised toAugustus. In November 251 AD, Herennia survived the epidemic, in which her sonHostilian died, retained the role of Augusta, despite any familial ties to Gallus and lived until 253 AD, corresponding to the end of his reign.[10][11]
While information about her is scarce, coins with her portrait are numerous and easy to obtain. Legends on coins struck at Rome only ever give her name as 'Herennia Etruscilla' butbillontetradrachms struck atAlexandria supply the Cupressenia element in abbreviation: ΕΡ ΚΟΥΠ ΑΙΤΡΟΥCΚΙΛΑ (Greek:Her. Koup. Aitrouskila), showing that her full name was Herennia Cup(ressenia) Etruscilla.[12] The Cupressenia element is expanded from the 'ΚΟΥΠ' in the Alexandria coin legends, from the Latincupresseus "cypress tree" and symbol ofJuno.[13]
| Royal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Empress of Rome 249–251 | Succeeded by |
| Succeeded by | ||
| Preceded by | Empress-Mother of Rome 251 | Succeeded by |
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