Vipsania (wife of Lepidus)


Vipsania was an ancient Roman noblewoman of the first century BC. She was married to the politician Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and was likely the daughter of Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and his second wife Claudia Marcella Major.

History

Early life

Vipsania was likely born between 27 BC and 21 BC to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and his second wife Claudia Marcella Major, the eldest daughter of emperor Augustus sister Octavia Minor. From her father she likely had an older full sister and two older half sisters as well as five younger half-siblings named Gaius Caesar, Lucius Caesar, Agrippina the Elder, Vipsania Julia and Agrippa Postumus from her father's third and last marriage to Julia the Elder. From her mother she also likely had several younger half siblings, among them Lucius Antonius and Iulla Antonia.

Marriage

Vipsania likely married Marcus Aemilius Lepidus as his first wife, when they were both relatively young. She was the niece of his father's recently wed second wife, Claudia Marcella Minor, so the marriage was likely made to improve their political standing. The two likely had children, an assumed son's name survives on the Basilica Aemilia and a woman named Aemilia Lepida is known to be Lepidus' daughter, but it is unknown if she was a daughter by Vipsania. If she is not the mother of Lepida then that would imply that she died relatively young.