Lucretia

Lucretia is a central character in Spartacus, a Roman woman of moderate status residing in Capua. She lives with her husband, Quintus Lentulus Batiatus, in the villa overlooking his ludus. Through a combination of her husband’s ambitions and her own cunning, the couple ascends the social hierarchy—only to face ruin when Spartacus seeks vengeance and leads a rebellion. In Vengeance, it is revealed that Lucretia survived the massacre thanks to Ashur’s intervention. She re-emerges as a symbol of hope and a prophetess among the citizens of Capua, though her true motives remain an enigma to those around her.

Names	Lucretia
Gender	Female ♀
Race	Human
Occupation	Domina, Roman Noble
Origin	Spartacus: Blood and Sand Episode 1: "Past Transgressions" (January 22, 2010)
Alignment	Evil
Age	30s
Created By	Steven S, DeKnight
Height	177 cm (5ft 9in)
Weight	60kg (134 lbs)
Personality Type	ENFJ, 3w2 (Enneagram)
Portrayed By	Lucy Lawless

Appearance

Lucretia’s natural hair is cropped short, but she typically wears elaborate wigs in either crimson red or platinum blonde. She is tall, standing close to the height of her 5'10" husband, with striking blue eyes. Despite Batiatus' fluctuating financial status, she indulges in luxurious gowns and jewelry, likely to compete with Ilithyia. Following her husband's death, she alters her appearance, adopting darker, more modest dresses and brunette wigs—perhaps as a sign of mourning.

Personality

Lucretia is a deeply complex character, torn between love and manipulation. She is devoted to her husband and his aspirations for power but secretly carries on an affair with Crixus, whom she desires just as intensely. She actively participates in Batiatus’ political and business dealings, often offering advice or orchestrating schemes of her own. Though she is sometimes shocked by the extremes her husband goes to—such as ordering the murder of a child—she ultimately accepts his ruthlessness as necessary for their advancement.

A devout believer in the Roman gods, Lucretia frequently prays for their favor, particularly in her desperate attempts to conceive. She considers herself infertile after years of unsuccessfully trying for a child with both Batiatus and Crixus. When she eventually becomes pregnant, she assumes the child is Crixus’.

She is bisexual, likely first exploring same-sex relationships with Gaia, a childhood friend. She is surprised when Ilithyia, the wife of Glaber, kisses her upon their first meeting, but later leverages their attraction to manipulate Ilithyia for her own benefit.

Like many elite Romans, Lucretia sees slaves as disposable tools for pleasure and status. She has no moral qualms about having them raped or killed for her amusement and frequently participates in such acts alongside her husband. She initially regards Crixus as nothing more than a plaything, rarely speaking to him, yet convinces herself that he loves her. Despite her ruthless nature, she considers any defiance from her slaves a personal betrayal and reacts with violent fury.

In her relentless pursuit of social elevation, Lucretia emulates Ilithyia, purchasing expensive jewelry and luxuries beyond their means to win favor with Ilithyia’s father, Senator Albinius. She proves to be just as scheming as Batiatus, twisting words and manipulating those around her to serve her ambitions. Her cruelty is fully realized when she slowly poisons Titus Batiatus to death and orchestrates a humiliating encounter between Ilithyia and Spartacus, later using it as leverage against both Ilithyia and Glaber.

Biography

Gods of the Arena

In the prequel, Gods of the Arena, Lucretia and Batiatus have only recently taken control of the ludus and are still shaping its future. Unlike in Blood and Sand, Lucretia is initially more reserved and innocent—when her visiting friend Gaia suggests sleeping with a gladiator, she is repulsed by the idea and has never considered being with anyone other than her husband. However, Gaia later tempts Lucretia into taking opium, and while under its influence, they share an intimate encounter. Batiatus remains unaware of this, though as the couple’s fortunes rise, they eventually engage in increasingly hedonistic trysts alongside Gaia.

When Tullius murders Gaia during an orgy at the villa, Titus Batiatus, Lucretia’s father-in-law, demands that Batiatus divorce her or risk being cast out into the streets. Grief-stricken over Gaia’s death, Lucretia begins wearing her friend’s distinctive red wigs as a tribute.

After a heated argument with Batiatus, Lucretia realizes that her inability to produce an heir is the greatest threat to her marriage. Desperate to secure her place, she abandons her previous reservations and takes Crixus as a lover, instructing him to impregnate her. However, she still shows visible disgust during their first encounter.

Determined to avenge both her husband's mistreatment and Gaia’s death, Lucretia orchestrates the murder of Titus Batiatus by poisoning the wine gifted to him by Tullius. She intends for Batiatus to blame Tullius and exact vengeance. However, her plan has unintended consequences—her trusted body servant, Melitta, unknowingly drinks the poisoned wine and dies as well. As Batiatus slaughters Tullius in retaliation, Lucretia regains control of the household, elevating her servant Naevia to Melitta’s former position—on the condition that she remain a virgin.

Blood and Sand

Following the sale of Spartacus to her husband, Lucretia befriends Ilithyia, the wife of Legatus Glaber. Ilithyia arranges for Lucretia to consult a priestess of Juno regarding her fertility struggles. During the consultation, Lucretia is given a potion to aid conception, which she takes immediately. With Batiatus away on business and little time before the potion's effects wear off, she summons her lover, Crixus. However, he refuses her advances, claiming he must remain focused for his upcoming battle against Theokoles—unbeknownst to Lucretia, his true reason is his growing affection for Naevia. Though frustrated, Lucretia eventually conceives and believes Crixus to be the father.

Through Ilithyia’s connections, Lucretia meets Licinia, a wealthy Roman noblewoman and cousin of Marcus Licinius Crassus, one of the richest men in Rome. Licinia desires Spartacus and arranges a secret encounter with him. When Ilithyia learns of this, she wishes to do the same with Crixus. Infatuated with Crixus, Lucretia is outraged but is forced to comply when Batiatus insists on appeasing their powerful guests. Seeking revenge on Ilithyia, Lucretia deliberately swaps the gladiators, setting up an unsuspecting Ilithyia with Spartacus. She then leads Licinia to witness the moment, revealing the deception just as Ilithyia realizes she is in bed with her enemy. Licinia, amused by the scandal, mocks Ilithyia—who, in a blind rage, brutally murders her.

Though Lucretia did not anticipate Licinia’s death, she quickly turns the situation to her advantage. She offers Ilithyia protection in exchange for political favors, while Licinia’s body is dismembered and hidden. When Glaber arrives in Capua to discuss Batiatus’ request for patronage, tensions escalate when Crixus attacks Ashur for assaulting Naevia. Disgusted by Batiatus' lack of control over his slaves, Glaber prepares to leave. However, Lucretia plays her final hand—she and Batiatus produce Licinia’s severed hand and threaten to expose Ilithyia’s crime unless Glaber grants patronage. Enraged but left with no choice, Glaber reluctantly agrees and abandons his wife in the House of Batiatus.

When Ashur reveals the truth about his actions with Naevia, Lucretia flies into a jealous rage, beating and berating her for betrayal. In a final act of humiliation, she hacks off Naevia’s hair with a blunt knife before sending her away to an undisclosed fate, devastating Crixus. As punishment, Batiatus has Crixus publicly whipped before the gladiators. He later informs Lucretia that he is aware of her affair with Crixus and orders her to end it.

The night before Crixus’ battle to the death against Spartacus, Lucretia offers him one last chance to reconcile, revealing that she is pregnant with his child. However, Crixus, still devoted to Naevia, refuses to acknowledge the child as his.

During the gladiators' armed rebellion, Crixus corners Lucretia and demands to know Naevia’s whereabouts. When she attempts to bargain, he stabs her in the abdomen, mortally wounding her and killing the unborn child.

Grievously injured, Lucretia staggers to where Batiatus stands, surrounded by the rebellious gladiators. She collapses as her husband rushes to her side—only to be intercepted by Spartacus, who slits his throat before her eyes. Left for dead, she lies on the floor of the villa, staring at Batiatus’ lifeless body as the rebels depart.

Vengeance

Glaber and Ilithyia take residence in Batiatus' ludus to be closer to Spartacus and his rebel forces. There, they find Lucretia, filthy, disheveled, and seemingly insane after surviving the massacre six weeks prior.

Lucretia appears delusional, with no memory of the events following Ilithyia’s arrival in Blood and Sand. Ilithyia is horrified by her survival and wishes to eliminate her to erase any trace of Licinia’s murder. However, Glaber sees an opportunity and orders Ilithyia to have Lucretia cleaned and presented as a divine miracle, claiming the gods spared her for a purpose. While adjusting to her new circumstances, Lucretia notices Ilithyia’s pregnancy and congratulates her.

Glaber presents Lucretia to the public in the marketplace, using her survival to inspire awe among the people. During this event, a bloodied and near-death Aurelia is displayed as a warning to any slaves considering rebellion. Spartacus, hidden in the crowd, attacks Glaber. As chaos erupts, the rebels appear, rescuing Aurelia. Amidst the skirmish, Crixus spots Lucretia. Seeing him triggers memories of the revolt, and she instinctively clutches the wound he inflicted before retreating into hiding.

Tensions between Lucretia and Ilithyia intensify, with Ilithyia convinced that Lucretia’s supposed divine favor is a farce. Her suspicions are confirmed when Ashur returns, offering his services to Glaber. Ashur reveals that he was responsible for saving Lucretia, having stitched her wounds and ensured her survival after the massacre. Despite his aid, Lucretia maintains that his actions were merely fulfilling "the will of the gods."

As Ilithyia schemes to marry Varinius, she grows increasingly resentful of Lucretia, particularly when she helps Seppia attract his attention. Sensing Ilithyia’s irritation, Lucretia offers to pray for the gods to unite her with Varinius instead. However, Ilithyia scorns Lucretia’s supposed powers, claiming her earlier success in locating Naevia was only possible because she had sent her away in the first place.

Lucretia's arc in Vengeance is one of survival, deception, and ultimate tragedy. Rescued by Ashur after the massacre at Batiatus' villa, she feigns madness while carefully navigating the political schemes of Ilithyia and Glaber. Though Ilithyia initially sees her as a liability, Glaber uses her survival as a divine spectacle to bolster his standing. Despite appearing loyal, Lucretia plays her own game, subtly manipulating events to her advantage.

Her complex relationship with Ilithyia sees moments of both deep alliance and bitter betrayal. She aids Ilithyia in securing her divorce and preserving her pregnancy, but also deceives her by swapping out the abortion potion, ensuring the child is born. Meanwhile, she suffers under Ashur’s control, enduring humiliation until she ultimately orchestrates his downfall with Ilithyia’s help.

Lucretia’s final act is her most shocking—after regaining Ilithyia’s trust, she betrays her at the last moment, murdering her slaves and claiming Ilithyia’s newborn as her own. Believing she and Batiatus finally have the child they always longed for, she takes the infant and throws herself off a cliff, ending her life in a twisted moment of triumph. Ilithyia, left broken and bleeding, soon succumbs to her wounds, sealing their tragic fates.

Trivia

• Lucretia’s character is deeply rooted in Roman history and social structures, adding layers of realism to her portrayal in Spartacus. While her lower birth is mentioned, Roman law required spouses to be of the same social rank, suggesting that either her status was misrepresented or her marriage to Batiatus had special circumstances. Her name links her to the Gens Lucretia, a historically significant family, particularly associated with the legendary Lucretia whose assault led to the fall of the Roman monarchy.
• Lucretia’s relationships with her body slaves highlight the complexities of Roman elite women’s interactions with their household. She deeply valued Melitta and regretted forcing her into an affair with Gannicus. With Naevia, she initially sought to preserve her dignity but later saw her involvement with Crixus as a betrayal.
• Her impact on the series is significant, both in direct and indirect killings. She holds a record for one of the highest body counts among female characters, with her manipulations leading to the deaths of several key figures. As the longest-running antagonist, her expanded role added depth to the narrative, with her eventual suicide marking a shocking and dramatic conclusion to her arc. Originally intended to die in Kill Them All, her survival allowed for one of the most intricate and tragic character developments in the series.