Damiane Vitruvia

The Magnficant Duchess Damiane Vitruvia IC DE DSA DCSI SFN EOV
Lady of the Chamber
In office 9 December 1952 – 23 July 1968
Monarch	Diana I Anicia
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Honoria Julia
Lady-in-Waiting
In office 2 February 1946 – 9 December 1980
Monarch	Diana I Anicia
Personal details
Born	Damiane Vitruvia Christina Theodosia Zoe (1937-10-23) 23 October 1937 Adrianople, Latium
Spouse(s)	Duke Josephus Verrucosus (m. 1957; died 2023)
Children	8
Residence(s)	Villa de Concordia, Entella

Duchess Damiane Vitruvia, IC DE DSA DCSI SFN EOV (Damiane Vitruvia Christina Theodosia; b. 23 October 1937) is a Latin noblewoman, businesswoman and widow of Duke Josephus Verrucosus. From 1945 until 1966 she was a member of Imperial court as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Diana I Anicia. She also served as Chairwoman of Verrucosa Tenura, later Delpha Verrco, from 1983 until 1995 and again in 2023, becoming the first woman to serve as an executive of a major Latin-based corporation.

Early life and education

Vitruvia was born on 23 October 1937 at Adrianople-Claudius Hospital, in Adrianople, to Zoe Pompeia and Duke Damianus Vitruvius. She was fifth-born child. She was primarily raised in Adrianople during her earliest years during her father's time as Mayor of the Duchy of Adrianople. She made her first visit to imperial court in Ascanium at the age of 4 in 1941. At the instance of her mother, Vitruvia was enrolled at Pescia Academy in Adrianople from 1941 until 1945 and the outbreak of the Social War.

During the Social War, Vitruvia became a junior lady-in-waiting to Empress Diana as they were a similar age. Vitruvia spent most of her time in Castellum with Diana and Imperial court, though was forced to flee from the city on occasion. She was widely regarded as a trouble maker at court, regularly being reprimanded by older courtiers and, according to a courtier, on one occasion, by Jacobus Claudius, Duke of Adrianople after her "dancing through the Aemilia suite caused coffee to spill and burn the Duke's hand". From 1945 until 1952, Vitruvia's education was handled by the same private tutors utilized by Empress Diana. Vitruvia is said to have been one Empress Diana's closet confidant during this period; they remain close friends to this day.

Vitruvia took an active role in Empress Diana's wedding, serving as a bridesmaid, and later coronation, where she and other ladies-in-waiting accompanied Diana along the procession through Castellum.

Marriage and children

In 1957, Vitruvia was betrothed to Josephus Verrucosus, a decorated veteran of the Social War and the Latin-Gelonian War. They met few times before the betrothal, though according to a courtier she and Verrucosus were spotted in conversation and sharing a dance at a fall 1954 ball to commemorate the annual Transvectio Equitum festival, despite an age gap. Aside from Empress Diana, who at the time was engaged to Leo Claudius, Vitruvia was considered one of the most eligible young women at the event, and gained the attention of many nobles searching for bride for themselves or their sons. According to a biographer, at the time she believed Verrucosus "would be forgettable as any other man if he were not so brutish and low born".

Vitruvia and Verrucosus were married on 16 January 1956 at Basilica of the Blessed Virgin in Adrianople, in a ceremony that was highly attended for a non-imperial wedding. She and Verrucosus would live in Colonia Augusta, outside of Castellum as Verrucosus continued to operate his fledgling business, Verrucosa Tenura.

When she was four months pregnant with her eldest son, Marius, she and her husband purchased Villa d'Iulia Concordia, in Utica, which had previously been the ancestral estate of the Sulpicia family. Unlike her husband, Vitruvia remained a practicing Catholic. Together, they have eight children: Marius, John, Josephina, Florentine, Adula, Adriana, Flora, and Zoe.

Work and politics

Spouse of the Praeses Senatus

In 1963, Duke Josephus Verrucosus was appointed Praeses Senatus following the resignation of Jacobus Claudius, Duke Adrianople. During the first two years of her husband's Consulship, Damiane sparingly made public appearances, though was often spotted at the Palace of Augustus. She was noted for her privacy during this period, and was the first spouse of a high ranking senator to hire her own press secretary, strictly controlling her and her children's accessibility to the press. Damiane was widely cited as being key to the political relationship between her husband and Empress Diana I Anicia due to her close friendship with the Empress. "[Damiane] was one of the few individuals that Diana wholeheartedly trusted," according to staffers at the Consuls office and courtiers.

Vitruvia was considered a fashion trendsetter during her husband's brief term. She was occasionally propped up as a fashion icon rivaling Empress Diana, though she often downplayed this publicly and privately. During the latter end of her husband's first consulship, she served as a fashion consultant to Allectii fashion company.

Business career

Vitruvia has been involved in various business and entrepreneurial ventures since her marriage to Verrucosus. Initially, she served as a brand ambassador for Allectii, and later serving on its board of directors in 1988. She has served on the board of Delpha Verrco since 1971. In 1983, she was named Chair of the Board by her husband, a role that she held until 1995, and again assumed in 2023.

Delpha Verrco continued its expansion into media and telecoms, and completed the finalization of the purchase of Delpha. She has been credited with assisting in growing Delpha Verrco into the largest non-public network television, and cable television company in Latium.

Accolades

Vitruvia served on the board of the Imperial Utica Orchestra, Utica Internationalis football and ice hockey clubs, and the National Endowment for Women. She received awards for woman of the year from the National Women's Council on six occasions (1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995). She was awarded honorary degrees and doctorates from Castellum College, Castellum, University of Haenna, and the University of Utica. In 1993, she donated $12 million to the University of Utica for a new library, which bears her name.

Titles, styles, honors and arms

• 23 October 1934 – 8 September 1970: Lady Damiane Vitruvia
• 8 September 1970 – present: The Magnificant The Duchess Verrucosa

Honors

• Latium: Knight of the Order of the Blood of the Eagle
• Latium: Companion of the Order of National Achievement
• Latium: Dame Grand Cross (formerly Commander) of the Most Excellent Order of the Empire
• Latium: Dame of the Sacred Order of the Golden Eagle
• Latium: Dame of the Ancient Equestrian Order

Foreign honors

• Sydalon: Lady of the Honorable Order of St Philip

Ancestry

Ancestors of Damiane Vitruvia

16. Justin Vitruvius 8. Maurus Vitruvius 17. Diana Cestia 4. Duke George Vitruvius 18. Florus Lentulus 9. Maria Lentula 19. Viviana Rulla 2. Duke Damianus Vitruvius 20. Dulcitius Mocillus 10. Urbicus Mocillus 21. Candida Aurelia 5. Christina Mocilla 22. Duke Adrian Poppaeus 11. Agnes Poppaea 23. Basilia Tremellia 1. Damiane Vitruvia 24. Felix Pompeius 12. Duke Gallienus Tolumnius 25. Anna Gavia 6. Duke Marcian Tolumnius 26. Andreas Mamilius 13. Diana Mamilia 27. Damiane Didia 3. Zoe Tolumnia 28. Duke Arsenius Voconius 14. Duke Adeodatus Voconius 29. Silvia Herennia 7. Adeodata Voconia 30. Constantine Tullius 15. Theodora Tullia 31. Anastasia Junia

See also

• Vitruvia family
• Verrucosa family

Court offices
Preceded by None	Mistress of Robes to Empress Diana 1952–1963	Succeeded by The Duchess of Ravenna