Dates: ? - 65 C.E.
Occupation: Mistress and second wife of the Roman emperor Nero.
Also known as: Poppea (Italianized spelling)
About Poppaea Sabina:
Poppaea was married first to Rufrius Crispinus, then to the future (brief) emperor Otho. When Poppaea became mistress of the emperor Nero, Otho's friend, Nero appointed Otho to an important post as governor of Lusitai.
Nero married Poppaea, and Poppaea was given the title Augusta. Poppaea and Nero had a daughter, Claudia, who did not live long.
According to the stories told of her, Poppaea urged Nero to kill his mother, Agrippina the Younger, and to divorce and later murder his first wife, Octavia. She is also reported to have persuaded Nero to kill the philosopher Seneca, who had supported Nero's previous mistress, Acte Claudia. Poppaea is believed to have stirred Nero to attack Christians after the Fire of Rome and to have helped free Jewish priests at the request of Josephus.
Nero supposedly kicked her when she was pregnant in 65 C.E. and she died. After her death, Poppaea was honored as divine.
She was replaced in 66 as Nero's wife by Statilia Messallina.
Otho, Poppaea's first husband, helped in Galba's successful revolt against Nero, and made himself emperor after Galba was killed, but was defeated by Vitellius' forces and Otho killed himself.
The Coronation of Poppaea:
"The Coronation of Poppaea," or "L'Incoronazione di Poppea," is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Monteverdi, libretto by G. F. Busenello. The opera focuses on the replacement of Nero's wife Octavia by Poppaea. The opera was first performed in Venice in 1642.
