Albula Domitilla
She is the Woman of trust of Claudia Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate, who says of her: "She is a second myself."[1]
Albula is active but discreet: "No one is surprised if she talks with the Jews because she is the one who deals with my liberality," says Claudia Procula.
She is entrusted to serve as an intermediary between Judas and Claudia in case of problems, notably when he tries to secretly negotiate Rome's support.
She is found alongside Claudia when the latter goes to meet Jesus exiled at Ephraim.[2] And it is she who delivers to Pontius Pilate the message from his wife in which she asks him "not to get involved in the affairs of this Just One."[3]
Character and Appearance
A strong matron about fifty years old.
Apostolic Journey
Like the small group of Roman women, she becomes a believer.[4]
Where is she mentioned in the work?
GRM 370 GRM 563
The Historicity of the Character
Salton the specialist, Jean-François Lavère, raises questions about the identity of Albula Domitilla. Indeed, the historical sources from this period, starting with Suetonius in The Life of Vespasian[5], speak of a certain Domitilla, wife of Flavius Liberalis, a mere clerk of the treasurer of the legion X Fretensis, stationed precisely in Syria and Palestine. This modest couple is known for the exceptional fate of their daughter, Flavia Domitilla the Elder, who married a plebeian destined for a remarkable future: Vespasian, future emperor of Rome. She probably did not live long enough to become empress, but she left two sons, Titus and Domitian, who also became emperors.
Maria Valtorta says nothing about Albula Domitilla’s husband; it is unknown whether he was still alive or not, but she repeatedly mentions the liberta (freedwoman) Flavia alongside her. The clues that can be drawn from Maria Valtorta’s writings seem to align with historical sources.
Flavia Domitilla the Elder was the favorite of Statilius CaPella, a Roman knight originally from Sabratha, in Africa. She held Latin citizenship but was declared a Roman citizen thanks to a judicial decision initiated by her father[5]. In 38/39, she married Vespasian, who became emperor thirty years later, and gave birth to Titus, Domitian, and Domitilla — the latter being the mother of Saint Flavia Domitilla, exiled as a Christian by order of her uncle.
Notes and references
Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.