Summary

The third chapter of Book 2 begins with another journal entry from Julia. She writes of Livia, who quickly becomes a mother figure to her once she and Octavius are married. Livia is openly disdainful of Julia at first, and she describes Livia as a coldly ambitious woman, although she also admires Livia for this. Livia is opposed to Julia’s marriage to Marcellus, as she would prefer Julia to be married to her son Tiberius, giving him the ability to succeed to the throne. However, when Livia asks Julia if she finds Tiberius agreeable, Julia states that she does not.

In a letter to Octavius written in 21 B.C., Livia writes of her anger at Julia’s continued marriage to Marcellus. Livia states that, while she understands why the marriage made sense previously, it now feels that Octavius is choosing Agrippa over...