Octavia (c. ad 40-62)

Octavia (c. ad 40-62), Roman empress, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Claudius I and his third wife Valeria Messalina. In 52 Octavia married her cousin Nero, who later deserted her at the request of his mistress Poppaea Sabina (fl. ad 58-65). Through the jealousy of Poppaea, whom Nero married in 62, a charge of adultery was brought against Octavia; she was sent to the island of Pandataria (now Ventotene) and there executed. She is the heroine of a contemporary tragedy erroneously attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca.