Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus (11 BC - AD 20/21) was a consul of ancient Rome. He was the father of the Roman Empress Valeria Messalina, great-nephew of the Emperor Augustus, and father-in-law to the Emperor Claudius.
He was son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus and Claudia Marcella Minor. His father served twice as consul. His paternal grandfather was the famous orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus. His maternal grandparents were consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor and Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus.
Messala Barbatus married his half first-cousin Domitia Lepida Minor. Their marriage resulted in a son Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus who became consul in 58 and the future empress Valeria Messalina (20-48).
Messala Barbatus was consul in 20. Some modern historians believe he died in 20 or early 21. His only known siblings were his elder half-sister Claudia Pulchra who married the Roman general and politician Publius Quinctilius Varus and his full sister Valeria, born ca 10 BC who married Lucius Vipstanus Gallus (ca 15 BC - 17), Praetor in 17, and had issue.
Famous quotes containing the words marcus valerius and/or valerius:
“Lie lightly on her, turf and dew:
She put so little weight on you.”
—Marcus Valerius Martial (c. 40–104)
“My sweetest Lesbia let us live and love,
And though the sager sort our deeds reprove,
Let us not weigh them: Heav’n’s great lamps do dive
Into their west, and straight again revive,
But soon as once set is our little light,
Then must we sleep one ever-during night.”
—Catullus [Gaius Valerius Catullus] (84–54 B.C.)