A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Pompeia Plotina
POMPEIA PLOTINA,
A Roman lady, who married Trajan while he was a private individual. She entered Rome in procession with her husband when he was saluted emperor, in the year 99, and distinguished herself by her affability, humanity, and kindness to the poor and friendless. It is recorded that on approaching the threshold of the palace raised by Nero, she gazed for a moment upon the vast and splendid monument of so many crimes, and polluted by so many vices; then turning to the people, and raising her hands and eyes heaven-ward, she exclaimed, "May the gods send me forth from this august palace, whenever I may be destined to leave it, even as I now enter it; and may the high destiny to which fortune now raises me, leave me in possession of the same qualities with which I this day assume it."
The people applauded her speech, and seem always to have loved and revered her. And she proved herself worthy of this warm esteem. She was remarkable for the dignity of her deportment, and for the influence which her chaste example had on the morals of Roman society. Plotina loved tranquillity, and sought to incline her husband's heart to the arts of peace; but Trajan was a soldier, and his passion for military glory superseded to the last his wisdom and his discretion. As Plotina could not dissuade him from his last expedition into Africa and Asia, she accompanied him; was by his side when he passed the Tigris over a bridge of boats; and when he died she was beside him and received his last breath. Then, after she had, by her energy and influence, made her favourite Adrian emperor, she brought back the ashes of her husband to Rome; and still enjoyed all the honours and titles of a Roman empress under Adrian, who, by her means, had succeeded to the vacant throne. At her death, which occurred in the year 122, she was ranked among the goddesses, and received divine honours.