Atilia


Atilia was the first wife of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis and mother of his two eldest children.

Biography

Early life

It is not known for certain who Atilia's father was, but he was from the Atilii Serrani. He may have been Gaius Atilius Serranus the consul of 106 BC, or Gaius' son.

Marriage

Cato married Atilia c. 73 BC, after his intended wife, Aemilia Lepida married Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica.
In the words of Plutarch:
Cato and Atilia had a son Marcus Porcius Cato, who later died in the second Battle of Philippi, and a daughter Porcia, who became the wife of her cousin Marcus Junius Brutus.
Circa 63 BC, Cato divorced Atilia on the grounds of her unseemly behaviour, later marrying Marcia. Atilia is not mentioned again.

Family tree