[1] The office was described by Livy, Dionysios of Halikarnassos and Plutarch.
The temple of Fortuna Muliebris was established in Rome in 488 BC, after Marcius Coriolanus had threatened to invade, but had been persuaded not to by his mother and his wife.
His mother and his wife hand in turn been persuaded to mediate by a delegation of married Roman women, matronae, under leadership of a matronae by the name Valeria.
As a sign of gratitude, the married women were given permission by the Senate to found a temple dedicated to the Goddess Fortuna and to select the first priestess of the temple, which became Valeria.
It focused on female patriotism and engaged married women in the safety and success of Rome.