Sabina

The grand-niece of the Roman emperor Trajan. By the influence of Plotina, Trajan's wife, Sabina was married to Hadrian (A.D. 100), but the marriage proved to be an unhappy one, and she took her own life (about A.D. 138). It was reported that her husband had poisoned her, but this is unworthy of belief (Spart. Hadr. 1, 2, 11, 23; Oros. vii. 13).

A woman of surpassing beauty, but licentious morals. She was the daughter of T. Ollius, but assumed the name of her maternal grandfather, Poppaeus Sabinus, who had been consul A.D. 9. She was first married to Rufius Crispinus, and afterwards to Otho, who was one of the boon companions of Nero. The latter soon became enamoured of her; and in order to get Otho out of the way, Nero sent him to govern the province of Lusitania(58). Poppaea now became the acknowledged mistress of Nero, over whom she exercised absolute sway. Anxious to become the wife of the emperor, she persuaded Nero first to murder his mother Agrippina (59), who was opposed to such a disgraceful union, and next to divorce and shortly afterwards put to death his innocent and virtuous wife Octavia (62). She then became the wife of Nero. In 65 Poppaea, being pregnant, was killed by a kick from her brutal husband (Suet. Nero, 35).