Agrippina the Younger

Julia Vipsania Agrippina Minor or Julia Agrippina; known as Agrippina Minor (Latin for the ‘younger’, Classical Latin: IVLIA•AGRIPPINA; from the year 50, called IVLIA•AVGVSTA•AGRIPPINA, Greek: η Ιουλία Αγκιππίνη, November 6, 15 - between 19-23 March, 59) or called Agrippinilla (to distinguish her from her mother) was an Empress. She was a great grand daughter of Emperor Augustus; great niece and adoptive granddaughter of Emperor Tiberius; sister to Emperor Caligula; wife of Emperor Claudius and mother of Emperor Nero. She has been described by the ancient and modern sources as ‘ruthless, ambitious, violent and domineering’. She was a beautiful and reputable woman. According to Pliny the Younger, she had canine teeth which meant a sign of good fortune. Agrippina has been credited for the poisoning of Emperor Claudius.

Family and Early Life

Agrippina was the first daughter and fourth living child of Agrippina the Elder and Germanicus. She was namesake of her mother. The elder Agrippina, is remembered as a modest and heroic matron who was the second daughter and fourth child of Julia the Elder and statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. The father of Julia the Elder, was Emperor Augustus. Augustus’ daughter was his only natural child from his second marriage to Scribonia (a descendant of general Pompey and dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla).

Agrippina’s father was Germanicus, a popular general and politician. His mother was Antonia Minor and his father was general Nero Claudius Drusus. Antonia Minor was a daughter to Octavia Minor from her second marriage to triumvir Mark Antony. Octavia Minor was the second eldest sister and full blooded sister of Augustus. Germanicus’ father Nero Claudius Drusus was the second son to Empress Livia Drusilla from her first marriage to praetor Tiberius Nero (she married Augustus’ as his third wife); was Emperor Tiberius’ younger brother and was Augustus’ step son. In 9, Augustus ordered and forced Tiberius to adopt Germanicus as his son and heir. Germanicus was always favored by his great uncle and had hoped that he would succeed Tiberius, who was adopted by Augustus as his heir and successor.

Agrippina was born at Oppidum Ubiorum, a Roman outpost on the Rhine River (modern Cologne, Germany). She travelled with her parents throughout the empire until 18, where she and her siblings returned to Rome (apart from Caligula) to live with their paternal grandmother. Her parents had travelled to Syria to complete official duties. One year later in October, Germanicus had died suddenly in Antioch.

Germancius’ death caused much public grief in Rome and his mother returned to Rome with his ashes. Agrippina lived and was raised between her mother and great grandmother Livia, who were two notable influential and powerful figures. Tiberius became the head of the family. She lived on the Palatine Hill in Rome.

After her thirteenth birthday in 28, Tiberius had arranged for her to marry Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus. Tiberius ordered the marriage to be celebrated at the Capital in Rome. Domitius came from a distinguished family. From his paternal side he descended from men of consular rank. Through his mother Antonia Major, he was related to the imperial family. Antonia Major was the elder sister to Antonia Minor and was another daughter to Octavia Minor and Mark Antony (Augustus being her maternal uncle). Domitius was her father’s first maternal cousin and her mother’s second maternal cousin. He was a wealthy man and had a despicable and dishonest character. Domitius was consul in 32. Agrippina and Domitius lived between Antium (modern Anzio) and Rome. Not much is known on the relationship between them.

Reign of Caligula

Tiberius died in Capri on March 16 37 and her only surviving brother Caligula became the new emperor. Agrippina as a sister of an emperor she started to gain some influence.

Agrippina with her younger sisters Julia Drusilla and Julia Livilla received various honours from their brother:

• They were given the rights of the Vestal Virgins (like the freedom to view public games from the upper 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’.

Around the time that Tiberius died, Agrippina became pregnant and Domitius had acknowledged the paternity of the child. In the early morning hours in Antium of December 15 37, Agrippina gave birth to her first child which was a son. This child was also the first child ever born to Domitius. Agrippina wasn’t sure what to name the child. Agrippina and Domitius named him as Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Lucius was named after Domitius’ late father. This child would grow up to be the future Emperor Nero. This son was Agrippina’s only natural child.

Caligula and his sisters had an incestuous relationship. During large banquets Caligula would commit incest with his sisters and also Caligula allowed his friends to sleep with his sisters in the palace. While still married to Domitius, Agrippina tried to make shameless advances to future emperor Galba, who showed no interest in her and was devoted to his wife. Galba’s mother-in-law gave Agrippina on one occasion, in a whole bevy of married women a public reprimand and slapped her in the face. On June 10 38, Drusilla had died and after her death Caligula’s relationship with Agrippina and Livilla changed. Caligula showed no extreme love nor respects towards them.

In 39, Agrippina, Livilla with their maternal cousin and Drusilla’s widow Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who involved in a failed plot to murder Caligula and make Lepidus the new emperor. Lepidus, Agrippina and Livilla were lovers. Not much is known on this plot and the reasons why it had happened. At the Lepidus’ trial Caligula felt no compunction about denouncing them as adultness’s. Caligula showed at Lepidus’ trial their handwritten letters discussing how they were going to kill him.

Lepidus was executed. Agrippina and Livilla was exiled by their brother to the Pontine Islands. Caligula had sold their furniture, jewellery, slaves and freedmen. Caligula had forced Agrippina and Livilla to dive for sponges to make a living. From here Agrippina, learnt how to become a good swimmer. In January 40, Domitius had died of Edema (dropsy) at Pyrgi. Lucius had went to live with his second paternal aunt Domitia Lepida. Caligula had taken his inheritance away from him. Caligula, his wife and daughter were murdered on January 24, 41. Her paternal aunt Claudius became the new emperor.

Reign of Claudius

Claudius ordered Agrippina and Livilla to leave from exile. Livilla had returned to her husband, while Agrippina was reunited with her estranged son. Claudius also had Lucius’ inheritance reinstated to him. Claudius had arranged with Gaius Sallustius Passienus Crispus and Domitia (Lucius’ first paternal aunt) to divorce so that Crispus could marry Agrippina. When Agrippina returned, she had nothing to return to. Agrippina married Crispus as her second husband and he became a step father to Lucius. Crispus was a prominent, influential, witty, wealthy and powerful man, who served twice as consul. He was the adopted grandson and biological great, great nephew of the historian Sallust. Little is known on their relationship.

In the first years of Claudius’ reign, Claudius was married to the infamous Empress Valeria Messalina. Although Agrippina was very influential, she kept a very low profile and stayed away from the imperial palace and the court of the emperor. Messalina was Agrippina’s second paternal cousin.

When Agrippina returned from exile, Messalina realised that Agrippina’s son was a threat to her son’s position, Messalina had sent assassins to strangle Lucius during his siesta. The assassins left in terror, when the snake suddenly darted from beneath Nero’s pillow; but was a slaughed snake-skin in his bed; near his pillow.

In 47, Crispus had died and at his funeral, the rumoured was spreading around that Agrippina poisoned Crispus to gain his estate. Being widowed for a second time, Agrippina was left very wealthy. Later that year at the Secular games, at the performance of the Troy Pageant, Messalina attended the event with her son Britannicus. Agrippina was also present with Lucius. Agrippina and Lucius received a greater applause from the audience than Messalina and Britannicus did. Many people began to show pity and sympathy to Agrippina, due to the unfortunate circumstances that occurred in her life. Agrippina wrote a memoir that recorded the misfortunes of her family (casus suorum) and wrote an account of her mother‘s life.

In 48, after the death of Messalina, Claudius considered remarrying for the fourth time. Around this time, she became the mistress to one of Claudius’ advisers, former Greek Freedman Pallas. At that time Claudius’ advisers were discussing which noble woman Claudius should marry. Claudius had a reputation that he was easily control by his wives and freedmen.

Pallas had advised Claudius that he should marry Agrippina. Pallas stated to the emperor, that her son was the grandson to his late brother Germanicus and Claudius would ally the two branches of the Claudian house and imperial family. Agrippina’s seduction was a help that she had the niece’s privilege of kissing and caressing her paternal uncle. Claudius was exercising on her passions.

Claudius made references about her in his speeches: ‘my daughter and foster child, born and bred, in my lap, so to speak’. When Claudius decided to marry her, he persuaded a group of senators at their marriage should be arranged in the public interest. In Roman society, an uncle marrying his niece was considered to be incestuous.

Agrippina and Claudius married on New Year’s Day in 49. This marriage caused widespread disapproval. This apart of Agrippina’s scheming plan to make her son Roman Emperor. Her marriage to Claudius wasn’t based on love, but was based on power. She eliminated her rival and distant relative Lollia Paulina, who was another possible wife for Claudius. In 49, Agrippina charged Paulina with black magic. Paulina did not get a hearing. Her property was confiscated, she left Italy and on orders, she committed suicide.

Before her marriage to Claudius, her maternal second cousin praetor, Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus and betrothed to Claudius’ daughter Claudia Octavia. This betrothal was broken off in 48, when Agrippina scheming with consul Lucius Vitellius had falsely charged Silanus with open affection towards his sister Junia Calvina. Agrippina did this hopefully to secure Octavia to marry her son. Consequently Claudius broke off the engagement and forced Silanus to resign from public office. Silanus committed suicide on the day that Agrippina married her uncle and Calvina was exiled from Italy in early 49. (Agrippina in towards the end of 54, had ordered the murder of Silanus’ eldest brother Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus without her son’s knowledge so he wouldn’t seek revenge against her, about his brother‘s death).

On the day that Agrippina married Claudius as her third husband, she became an Empress and the most powerful woman in the Roman Empire. She also was a step mother to Claudia Antonia (Claudius’ daughter and only child from his second marriage to Aelia Paetina) and to the young Claudia Octavia and Britannicus, Claudius’ children with Messalina. Agrippina removed or eliminated anyone from the palace or the imperial court who she though was loyal and dedicated to memory of the late Messalina. She also eliminated or removed anyone, who she considered was a potential threat to her position and the future of her son (one of her victims, was Lucius‘ second paternal aunt and Messalina‘s mother Domitia Lepida).

Agrippina in 49, presided over the exercises of Roman legions and Celtic King Caratacus assumed that she, as well as Claudius, was the martial leader and bowed before her throne with the same 'homage and gratitude' as he accorded the emperor.

In 50, Agrippina was granted the honorific title of Augusta (a title which no other imperial woman had ever received in the lifetime of her husband). She was the Roman third woman and the only second living Roman woman to be receive this title. Also that year, Claudius had founded a Roman colony and called the colony Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis or Agrippinensium, after Agrippina who was born there. In 51, she given a carpentum for which she used. A carpentum was a ceremonial carriage usually reserved for priests and sacred statues. Also that year she appointed Sextus Afranius Burrus as head of the Praetorian guard.

Agrippina successfully manipulated and influenced Claudius into adopting her son and becoming his successor. Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 50 was adopted by his great maternal uncle and step father. Lucius’ name was changed to Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus and he became Claudius’ adopt son, heir and recognised successor. Agrippina and Claudius was betrothed Nero to Octavia and Agrippina arranged for Seneca the Younger to return from exile to tutored the future emperor. Claudius chose to adopt Agrippina son’s because of his Julian lineage . Agrippina deprived Britannicus of his heritage and further isolated him from his father and succession for the throne. In 51 Agrippina ordered the execution of Britannicus’ tutor Sosibius, because he confronted Agrippina and was outraged of Claudius’ adoption of Nero and his choice of Nero succeeding him, instead of his natural son Britannicus.

Nero and Octavia married on June 9 53. Claudius later repented marrying Agrippina, adopting her Nero and was beginning to favor Britannicus and started preparing him for the throne. This was the motive that is claimed that Agrippina needed to eliminate Claudius. Ancient sources credited her poisoning Claudius on October 13 54 with a plate of poison mushrooms at a banquet, thus enabling Nero to quickly take the throne as emperor. Accounts vary wildly with regard to this private incident and it is quite possible Claudius died of natural causes.

Reign of Nero

Agrippina was named a priestess of the cult of the deified Claudius. She was allowed to visit senate meetings, watch and hear the meetings behind a curtain. This evidently shows that she had real power.

In the first months of Nero’s reign Agrippina controlled her son and the empire. She lost control over Nero when he began to have an affair with freedwoman Claudia Acte, which Agrippina strongly disapproved and violently scolded him. Agrippina began to support Britannicus in her attempt to make him emperor. Britannicus was secretly poisoned on Nero’s orders during a banquet in February 55. The power struggle between Agrippina and her son had began.

Agrippina between 55 and 58 became very watchful and had a critical eye over her son. In 55 Agrippina was forced out of the palace by her son to live in imperial residence. Nero deprived his mother of all honors, powers and even removed her Roman and German bodyguards. Nero even threatened his mother he would abdicate the throne and would go to live on the Greek Island of Rhodes. Pallas also was dismissed from the court. The fall of Pallas and the opposition of Burrus and Seneca, contributed to Agrippina's loss of authority..

Towards 57, Agrippina was expelled from the Palace and went to live in a riverside estate in Misenum. While Agrippina lived there or when she went on short visits to Rome, Nero had sent to people to annoy her. Although living in Misenum, she was still very popular, powerful and influential. Agrippina and Nero would see each other on short visits.

Nero in 58 had a second mistress, infamous noble woman Poppaea Sabina. Sabina was a cold, beautiful woman who was like Agrippina in many ways. Agrippina strongly disapproved of Sabina and since Britannicus’ death became a strong supporter of Octavia’s with her marriage with Nero. Nero having enough of his mother’s insults, attempted control and over domination (also with some persuasion from Sabina) decided to kill his mother.

Nero tried unsuccessfully three times to poison her, however she took the antidote in time. Another failed attempt to kill her, a machine would go through the ceiling of her bedroom, while sleeping. One person in the plot gave the secret away to Agrippina. Nero had sent a freedman to kill her, but he couldn’t kill her, so he stabbed himself.

In March 59, at Baiae, Nero falsely making up with Agrippina, reportedly made an attempt at Agrippina's life by trying to drown her in a boat having weak sites of the roof, which would collapse and crush Agrippina. Agrippina though, survived and swam to shore, Nero ordered soldiers to find his mother and beat her to death. She is said to have pointed to her abdomen and told her killers to harm her there, where Nero had been conceived. Another source says she was murdered by a freedman, Anicetus, acting on Nero's orders.. Agrippina had died in the bedroom of her estate.

After Agrippina was murdered, Nero viewed her corpse and complemented how beautiful she was. Her body was cremated that night on a dining couch. On that night, Nero was witless, speechless and scared. When the news spread that Agrippina died the Roman army, senate and various people had sent him letters of congratulations, that he murdered his mother.

During his reign, her grave was not covered or enclosed. Her household later on gave her a modest tomb in Misenum. Nero would have his mother’s death on his conscience. He felt so guilty he would have nightmares about his mother. He even saw his mother’s ghost and got Persian magicians to scare her away. Years before she died, Agrippina had visited astrologers to ask about her son’s future. The astrologers predicted that her son would become emperor and would kill her. She replied ‘Let him kill me, provided he becomes emperor’.

See Also

• Julio-Claudian Family Tree

Portrayals in Opera, Film and Television

A fictionalised account of Agrippina the Younger forms the basis of the Handel opera Agrippina. The character of Agrippina the Younger has been portrayed by various actresses in different films and television series, including Gloria Swanson in the 1956 film Nero's Mistress, Barbara Young in the BBC TV series I, Claudius (in which she's called Agrippinilla), Ava Gardner in the 1985 epic miniseries A.D. Anno Domini, Frances Barber in the 2003 Masterpiece Theater production Boudica and Laura Morante in the 2004 TV miniseries Imperium: Nero.

File:Ava Gardner Agrippina.jpg

Agrippina, played by Ava Gardner in the 1985 epic miniseries A.D. Anno Domini

Ancient

Note that most ancient Roman sources are quite critical of Agrippina the Younger, because she was seen as stepping outside the conservative Roman ideals regarding the roles of women. Tacitus: Critical view, considered her vicious and had a strong disposition against her due to her femininity and influential role in politics. Perhaps the most comprehensive of Ancient sources. Others are Suetonius and Cassius Dio.

Modern

• E. Groag, A. Stein, L. Petersen - e.a. (edd.), Prosopographia Imperii Romani saeculi I, II et III, Berlin, 1933 - . (PIR²)
• Scullard: A critical view of Agrippina, suggesting she was ambitious and unscrupulous and a depraved sexual psychopath. "Agrippina struck down a series of victims; no man or woman was safe if she suspected rivalry or desired their wealth."
• Ferrero: Sympathetic and understanding, suggesting Agrippina has been judged harshly by history. Suggesting her marriage to Claudius was to a weak emperor who was, because of his hesitations and terrors, a threat to the imperial authority and government. She saw it her duty to compensate for the innumerable deficiencies of her strange husband through her own intelligence and strength of will.
• Barret: A reasonable view, comparing Scullard's criticisms to Ferrero's apologies. (See Barrett, Anthony A., Agrippina: Sex, Power and Politics in the Early Roman Empire, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1996.)
• Salmonson, Jessica Amanda. (1991) The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. Pages 4-5.
• http://www.roman-emperors.org/aggieii.htm