Agrippina the

Younger

Rise to
Prominence
& Life Under the
Emperors
Her Family
■ She was born into the Imperial Family; her
parents were Germanicus (named heir to the
title of Princeps ...Tiberius) and Agrippina the
Elder (the granddaughter of Augustus).
■ She was the eldest daughter of 6 surviving
children; her brothers were Nero, Drusus and
Gaius Caligula and her sisters were Drusilla
and Julia Livilla.
Fate of her Family
■ Germanicus – dies of
illness in AD19 in
Antioch…Possibly at
the hands of Nero.
■ Agrippina the Elder and
her sons Nero and
Drusus exiled under the
order of Sejanus. All 3 die
in exile.
■ Sejanus was head of the
Praetorian Guard and was relied
on by Tiberius during his
retirement to Capri.
 Gaius (Caligula)
■ Gaius becomes emperor
in AD37 and is
assassinated in AD41.
■ His rule was erratic and
Agrippina was reportedly
involved with Livilla and
Lepidus (Drusilla’s
husband) of plotting to
overthrow him.
 Agrippina’s sisters
■ Drusilla dies in AD38 of a fever.

■ Julia Livilla executed by Claudius no later than AD42

after being accused (though not proven) of adultery
with Seneca by Messalina (Claudius’ wife)
Maiestas .
Three marriages each for a purpose

The Marriages
Marriages – the first…
■ Her first marriage was
to Lucius Domitius
Ahenobarbus in AD28.
■ This was arranged by
Tiberius as was the
standard practice in
Rome.
■ He was consul in AD32
and was related to
Augustus through his
mother Antonia the
Elder.
■ He died while she was
in exile.
Importance of the marriage.
■ He gave her status as a married woman.
■ He was friendly with Tiberius and therefore she was
‘protected’ by the intrigues of Sejanus who had
effectively removed her mother and 2 elder brothers.
■ Ahenobarbus was by all accounts a ‘man utterly
detestable’ (Tacitus) – therefore was the marriage a
‘punishment’?
■ It gave her a son – Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus
(later called Nero) who was born 9 months after the
death of Tiberius.
■ Was this a coincidence? If not what does it tell us
about her?
Marriages – the 2nd…convenience
■ She set her sights on the prominent Servius Sulpicius
Galba, who later became Emperor after Nero.
However she was publically slapped by his mother as
he was grieving for his very recently deceased wife.
■ She married the wealthy Gaius Sallustius Crispus
Passienus who had been consul in 27 and again in
44.
■ He had formerly been the husband of a sister of
Domitius Ahenobarbus and so was her brother-in-law.
Passienus died sometime before 47.
Importance of the marriage…
■ It kept her from Messalina (wife of Claudius) who
saw her as a threat because:
■ She was incredibly popular
■ She also had a son to promote who was 4 years older
than Britannicus her own son.
■ It provided her with:
■ Legitimacy as a Roman matron
■ Stability for herself and Nero (he had to grow up!)
■ Incredible wealth as she inherited it all when he died
■ Leadbetter argues that Crispus Passienus was the son
of Livia’s confidante – a ‘keeper of secrets’ – and
therefore she may have had access to some of this
information about prominent Romans.
Marriages – the 3rd….
■ She married her uncle Claudius
in AD49 after the execution of
Messalina.
■ There were reportedly 3 rivals
to be his wife. Pallas, the
financial secretary was
supposedly her lover and
supported her claim.
■ Tacitus says she was able to
‘arouse his passions’ as she
had a niece's ‘privilege of
kissing him’. But there is no
criticism of Claudius!!
Reasons for Marriage to Claudius
■ Did she seduce him into marrying her?
■ Did she have to?
■ Most sources will say she did as they liked to
believe:
■ Claudius was stupid
■ She was a manipulative woman who’d do
anything to gain power BUT…
■ Leadbetter argues against this (as does
Robert Graves interestingly) where he
believes that Claudius had to marry her.
….Then why did Claudius have to
marry her?
■ The ‘marriage’ of Messalina to Gaius Silius (the consul-elect)
was not just a personal betrayal – it was also a politically
dangerous time for Claudius as Silius was young, virile,
popular – all things Claudius was not.
■ Therefore he needed to make a political marriage that would
make his position as unassailable. Marriage to Agrippina II
would do this.
■ How?
■ She was very popular with the army in her own right
(examine later actions as evidence of this).
■ She brought the Julian (and Augustan) line with her,
Claudius was not descended from Augustus.
■ She brought Nero with her – a much more suitable
candidate as heir than Britannicus.
■ She was too dangerous to leave for someone else to marry.
■ What do you think?
Importance of the marriage
■ It gave her the ultimate position for a woman in Imperial Rome –
the wife of an Emperor (compare this with Livia as the only other
wife and mother of an Emperor).
■ It helped her to promote Nero’s position and claim to the
principate.
■ She received many honours including:
■ She wore a military cloak at official state functions,
■ Greeted foreign embassies in the capacity of full imperial authority
■ Founded and had a colony named after her where she was born
■ Appeared prominently on coinage
■ Given the title ‘Augusta’ – the first living woman to get this
■ Had her dictations recorded in official government documentation.
■ Had Nero formally adopted by Claudius and engaged to his daughter
Octavia.
■ Had Seneca recalled (became Nero’s Tutor) and made Burrus sole
prefect of the Praetorian Guard.
■ In essence she ‘co-ruled’ Rome with Claudius.
 The Sebasteion of Aphrodisias
Relief
■ This relief clearly shows
the equity with which the
provinces saw Claudius
and Agrippina – note the
equal height! (I think she’s
a bit taller...).
■ Also notice the cornucopia
(Horn of Plenty) that
Agrippina is holding in her
left hand and which
represents the prosperity
of the Roman Empire.
Her Life Under
The Emperors
Tiberius AD 14-37
■ Essentially her life is quiet although she
would have been aware of the accusations of
her mother towards Tiberius.
■ She was married at the age of 13 to Gaius
Domitius Ahenobarbus which effectively
‘protected her’ from Tiberius.
■ But was she really in any danger from him?
■ What do you think she would have learnt from
her mother’s behaviour and ultimate fate?
Gaius ‘Caligula’ AD 37-41
Coin of Agrippina and her sisters
■ This coin was minted and distributed at the
accession of Gaius.
■ The 3 sisters are represented as – Securitas
(security), Concordia (unity, agreement) and
Fortuna (possessing divine favour is the
closest translation).
■ These qualities Gaius wanted associated with
himself and his principate.
■ The coin was a piece of propaganda spread
deliberately by Gaius that used his sisters.
Privileges given to his sisters…
■ Agrippina with her younger sisters received various
honours from their brother:
■ They were given the rights of the Vestal Virgins such
as the freedom to view public games from the imperial
seats in the stadium.
■ Issuing of coins depicting images of Caligula and his
sisters. Roman coins like these were never issued
before.
■ Caligula added his sister's names in all loyalty oaths in
the following terms: ‘I will not value my life or that of my
children less highly than I do the safety of the Emperor
and his sisters’ and in consular motions: ‘Good fortune
attend to the Emperor and his sisters’.
But that all changed…
■ After Gaius’ illness and Drusilla’s death in AD38, he appeared to
become increasingly erratic and even manic.
■ Leadbetter claims that Agrippina, along with Drusilla’s husband
Lepidus and Livilla were involved in a plot to overthrow Gaius
and replace him with Lepidus.
■ If true, this shows a deliberate attempt from within the ruling
dynasty to rectify an embarrassing mistake. Gaetulicus, the
commander of Upper Germany was the mastermind who was
supposed to replace Gaius with Lepidus. When the plot was
discovered, he was put to death as was Lepidus.
■ When she is forced by Gaius to return to Rome carrying the
ashes of Lepidus it is the ultimate mockery of her mother’s
actions in AD19. This is a deliberate humiliation as a sign of her
defeat by Gaius. However she remained defiant and both
sisters are exiled (recalled by Claudius).
■ Nero lives with his paternal aunt Domitia Lepida (who is also the
mother of Messalina).
Claudius AD 41-54
■ The reasons for the marriage have already
been discussed as has the honours she
received.
Let's look at what the coinage tells us:
■ Below a golden aureus and a silver denarius
On her own…
■ Gold coin minted AD50-54?

■ What do they tell us?

Nero AD 54-68
■ One of the first coins struck by Nero upon his
accession as emperor. The inscription reads
“Agrippina Augusta, wife of the Divine Claudius,
mother of Nero Caesar”. Nero's inscription appears
only on the reverse of the coin around an oak wreath.

Aureas of Nero and Agrippina II AD55

More coins…
■ The third precious metal coinage of Nero as emperor.
The inscription reads “Nero, son of the Divine
Claudius, Imperator, holder of Tribunician power,
consul”.

■ How has Agrippina’s position changed?

■ What does this indicate about their relationship?
Statue of Agrippina II & Nero
■ What does this statue mean?
Her death…
■ While she enjoyed a brief period of stability and ‘rule’
under Nero within a year she had been replaced by
Seneca and Burrus as Nero’s chief advisors.
■ Why did he decide to kill her?
■ His relationships with Acte & Poppaea
■ The encouragement of Seneca & Burrus
■ Her continued popularity
■ Her support of Octavia & Britannicus
■ The perceived threat of her remarriage.
■ In the end Nero could neither live with her nor without
her.