Messala
The name of a distinguished family of the Valeria gens at Rome. The most famous member of the family was M. Valerius Messala Corvinus, who, though he fought on the republican side at Philippi, was pardoned by the triumvirs, and afterwards became a friend of Augustus and a patron of learning. He was a friend also of Horace, and his name constantly occurs in the elegies of Tibullus.
Messalina, Valeria. She was notorious for her vices, and married the emperor Claudius, who, wearied with her misconduct, cited her to appear before him and reply to the accusations which were brought against her, on which she attempted to destroy herself, but, failing to do so, was slain by one of the tribunes who had been sent to summon her.