Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Julius Caesar divorce Pompeia?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Statue of Julius Caesar in Roman military attire stands in front of a domed building in Rome, Italy, with a clear blue sky in the background. — Julius Caesar Julius Caesar, bronze sculpture in Rome.

Julius Caesar divorced his wife, Pompeia, following a scandal involving the Roman politician Publius Clodius Pulcher.12

In December 62 BCE, the rites of Bona Dea—a religious festival dedicated to a deity of fruitfulness—were held at Caesar’s house. Because these ceremonies were strictly for women, the presence of any man was considered a violation of religious sanctity (incestum). During the event, Clodius was discovered disguised as a female harpist.132

Although Caesar did not personally testify against Clodius during the subsequent trial, he chose to divorce Pompeia due to the suspicion that she had allowed Clodius to attend the ceremony. Caesar famously justified his decision by stating that "Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion".23