Lucius Caesar
Lucius Caesar
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| Born | 17 BCE | ||||
| Died | 20 August 2 CE Massalia, Gaul | ||||
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| Father | Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa | ||||
| Mother | Julia the Elder | ||||
| Roman imperial dynasties | ||
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| Julio-Claudian dynasty | ||
| Chronology | ||
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27 BC – AD 14 |
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AD 14–37 |
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AD 37–41 |
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AD 41–54 |
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AD 54–68 |
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Lucius Julius Caesar (17 BCE – 20 August, 2 CE), most commonly known as Lucius Caesar, was the second son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder. He was born between 14 of June and 15 July 17 BCE with the name Lucius Vipsanius Agrippa, but when he was adopted by his maternal grandfather Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, his name was changed to Lucius Julius Caesar. In the year of his birth, his maternal grandfather Caesar Augustus adopted him and his brother Gaius Caesar. He may have used the cognomen Vipsanianus according to adoption in ancient Rome or Agrippa as his youngest brother Agrippa Postumus after the tria nomina Lucius Julius Caesar. He and his brother were raised and educated by their grandparents.
As he and Gaius were the heirs to Augustus, they had promising legal and military careers. Lucius died of a sudden illness on 20 August, 2 CE,[1] in Massilia of Gaul, modern day Marseilles, France, while traveling to meet the armies in Spain.[2] His death was followed 18 months later[3] by the death of his brother Gaius on 21 February, 4 CE.[4] His younger brother Agrippa Postumus was consequently adopted by Augustus along with Tiberius on 27 June, 4 CE.[5]
It has been suggested that there may be been foul play involved in the death of Lucius, and that Lucius' stepgrandmother Livia may have had a hand in his death. Livia's presumed motive may have been to orchestrate the accession of her own son Tiberius as heir to Augustus.[6]
He was played by Simon MacCorkindale in the 1976 TV series I, Claudius.
