Freeborn
women in ancient Rome were
citizens (
cives), but could not vote or hold
political office. Because of their limited public role, women are named less frequently than men by
Roman historians. But while Roman women held no direct political power, those from wealthy or powerful families could and did exert influence through private negotiations. Exceptional women who left an undeniable mark on history range from the semi-legendary
Lucretia and
Claudia Quinta, whose stories took on
mythic significance; fierce
Republican-era women such as
Cornelia, mother of the
Gracchi, and
Fulvia, who commanded an army and issued coins bearing her image; women of the
Julio-Claudian dynasty, most prominently
Livia, who contributed to the formation of
Imperial mores; and the empress
Helena, a driving force in promoting Christianity.