Munatia Plancina was a Roman noblewoman who lived in the early times of the Empire founded by Augustus.
Background
The couple was accused of poisoning Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of the Emperor Tiberius. She was probably the daughter of a certain Munatius, who was the Comes of Tiberius at his diplomatic mission in the E. In this case she was the granddaughter of Lucius Munatius Plancus, who had been consul in 42 British Columbia.
Career
She was the wife of the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso. At first, Munatia Plancina was acquitted, but when the trial was renewed she committed suicide. Often Munatia Plancina is simply called Plancina.
Munatia Plancina was a rich woman and very self-confident because of her noble descent.
She was probably the second wife of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso. They had two sons: Gnaeus, who later changed his first name into Lucius, and Marcus Calpurnius Piso.
Like Agrippina also Munatia Plancina was sometimes present at military parades. The Roman historian Tacitus states that Livia secretly ordered Munatia Plancina to take this action against Germanicus and Agrippina, but Tacitus’ account is not reliable.
Munatia Plancina was supposed to have been in contact with a Syrian preparer of poison called Martina.
The death of Germanicus supposedly gave Munatia Plancina a lot of pleasure. The couple had to answer to the senate for their supposed murder of Germanicus. Allegedly Munatia Plancina was convicted of very serious crimes.
But her powerful friend Livia fought for her and exerted pressure on Tiberius.
A recently discovered senate resolution also confirms that Munatia Plancina owed her impunity to the recommendation of Tiberius, who had been pressed by Livia to act in this way. But after the death of Livia she had no longer such a powerful protectress.
So in 33 AD Tiberius renewed the charge. She committed suicide before the judgement.