3297agrippina The Younger Study Notes

Stephanie Azzopardi HSC ANCIENT HISTORY
HSC Ancient History

Part III: Personalities in their Times: OPTION L
Rome: Agrippina the Younger
Key
Highlighted: Syllabus dot point
Dark blue writing: Ancient written source
Light blue writing: Modern written source
Green writing: Archaeological Source
1. Historical Context
Geography, topography and resources of Rome and the Roman Empire
Geography & Topography of Rome & Roman Empire
 West coast of Italy
 West of Apennine Mountain ranges
 Climate = Mediterranean
 Volcanic area (Mt Etna, Mt Vesuvius) = very fertile land
 Empire  covered majority of Mediterranean
 Extended to Europe in the north – Greece and Asia (East) – Egypt and Africa
(South) & Spain (West)
 Agricultural production = major activity during Agrippina’s time
 Most cities located near rivers  easy for trade
Resources of Rome and the Roman Empire

 Rome imported large amounts of food from around the empire
 Luxury goods imported from Europe, Africa & Near East
 Ships brought spices, jewels & perfumes from India
 Grain from Egypt = most significant importation  fed Rome’s masses
 Shipments arrived daily at Ostia (Tiber River)
Map Diagram: Resources of Rome
Overview of Roman social and political structures; principate

Principate
 Government established by Augustus in 27 BC

 Augustus  established peace & stability after a century of civil war
 Given privileges and powers
 Did not dictate  called himself Princeps (first citizen)
 Modest, administered Rome and empire effectively for more than three decades
 Held auctoritas  personal prestige and influence based on background & achievements
 Wanted line of succession to be family  would prevent civil war
 The structure of Roman society reflected the political power of different
groups
Upper classes
Group Description
Emperor Political, military, economic & religious control in Rome and empire
Imperial family Julio-Claudians: exercised power & influence
Consular Senators who had achieved office of consul  experience & authority
respected
Senators Membership = hereditary
Served emperor in offices throughout empire
Gained wealth from large estates
Equestrians  Membership based on ownership of property worth 400,000 sesterces
 Public office, trade & banking = wealth
 Served emperor as procurators, Praetorian guards, commanders of fire
service & grain supply, jurors, military officers
 Businessmen
 Political & military positions
Rich  Ex-slaves  acquired wealth through trade, banking, manufacturing and
Freedmen/women land dealings
Liberti  Could marry freeborn women
 Could not become senator, serve in legions, religious or judicial roles
 Business roles  could become extremely wealthy
 Claudius: Freedmen Pallas and Narcissus supervised main branches of
government
 Children (Freeborn)  entitled to full citizenship
Cursus honoroum (Ladder of political offices)

1. Consul  civil and military
2. Praetor  judicial
3. Aedile  maintenance of city (temples, streets, public buildings, water supply, markets, grain
dole)
4. Quaestor  Financial and administrative
Lower class
Group Description
Plebeians  Many denied access to power
 Most relied on grain dole
 Soldiers in army
Slaves  Essential to Roman economy
 Dominated agricultural industry  mines and quarries
 Commerce industry  labourers, domestic servants, prostitutes, gladiators
 Education  tutors, doctors, secretaries, librarians & linguists
 Not permanent  manumission common
Role of imperial women in Roman society
 Ideal woman  matrona  loyal wife and devoted mother, controlled under pater
familias
 Expected to be modest, marry young, have large families
 Expected to exhibit gravitas  have dignity and aware of responsibilities
 Motherhood  raise children effectively
 Educators  taught daughters how to manage household, read and write
 Tacitus: role = “to mind the house and watch over the children.”
 Bauman: “shaped domesticity of ancient Rome”
 End of republic  upper class women gained some independence
 Could inherit, own and sell property
 Fatherless women who had three children  could enter into legal transactions without
male guardian
 Ran businesses
 Bought and sold slaves
 Made investments
 Wealth and prestige of father/husband = great social & political influence
Livia  Wife of Augustus

 Dutiful and devoted wife, modest, promoted traditional values
 Confidant and adviser of Augustus
 Active role in public life
 Owned properties in Rome, Asia Minor, Gaul & Palestine
 Rights & honours  voted public statues
 Augustus left 1/3 of estate & adopted Livia into Julian family
 Given title Augusta
 Priestess of cult of Augustus
 Deified under grandson Claudius
Octavia  Promoted traditional Roman values

 Augustus’ sister
 Had three children with Marcellus
 Married Mark Antony (political arrangement to strengthen relationship between
Augustus and Antony)
 Given public funeral by Augustus
Antonia  Daughter of Octavia and Mark Antony

 Son = Claudius  gave mother many honours
 Bore three children
Julia  Daughter of Augustus

 Three marriages  Six children
Agrippina  Married Germanicus

the Elder  Bore 9 children
 Influential in Roman affairs
2. Background and rise to prominence

Family background and status
 Great granddaughter of Augustus
 Father  Germanicus
 Brother  Emperor Gaius Caligula
 Uncle and later husband  Emperor Claudius
 Son  Emperor Nero
 Connected to BOTH Julian and Claudian blood line
o Barrett: made great use of her Julian blood line and connection to Augustus
o Link to Claudian line  great-grandmother Livia and father Germanicus
o Link to Julian family  Augustus  BUT also her grandmother Antonia Minor was
the daughter of Octavia (sister of Augustus)
o Tacitus: “her pedigree was impeccable”
 Germanicus:
o Agrippina inherited enormous status from Father
o Son of Drusus and Antonia
o In 20s  fought in regions along the Danube and Germany, sometimes with Tiberius
o Augustus had forced Tiberius to adopt Germanicus in order to secure his succession
o AD 12  became consul
o AD 13  Augustus appointed him Governer of Upper and Lower Germany
o Despite poor performance in Germany – remained popular in Rome
o Suetonius: “true Renaissance man”
 Lists Germanicus’ accomplishments in battle (hand-to-hand combat)
 “Outstanding physical and moral excellence”
o Barrett: argues he had too much charisma
 Agrippina the Elder
o Agrippina gained enormous status from mother
o Daughter of Julia (daughter of Augustus) and Agrippa (trusted and loyal adviser –
arranged by Augustus)
o All siblings had died (except Julia – sent to live in exile)
o Established Julian blood line
o Extremely fertile  gave birth to six surviving children (fertility highly valued by
Augustus)
o Tacitus: Praised for her role in ensuring the safe return of legionary forces from
Germanic tribes
 Assisted soldiers who had lost equipment and needed dressing for their wounds
 Prevented destruction of Vetera Bridge over the Rhine
Early life, ambitions and marriages

Early Life
 Tacitus: Born 6th November AD 15  generally accepted date
 Barrett: Used Germanicus’ “success” in Germany to her advantage
 Death of Germanicus:
o AD 19
o Death surrounded by suspicion
o Unexpected illness and death led Agrippina the Elder to suspect Tiberius as the
perpetrator of his death  caused insecurity and turmoil within Agrippina’s family
 Grant: “she grew up in an appalling atmosphere of malevolence, suspicion
and criminal violence”
 AD 28: Marries Ahenobarbus
 AD 29: Agrippina the Elder’s popularity with the army makes her a threat
 Sejanus threatened  plotted against Drusus, Nero and Agrippina’s allies
 Treason trials eradicated several wealthy senators
 Agrippina the Elder, Nero (exiled to Pontian islands) and Drusus (imprisoned in Rome)
 Agrippina the Elder:
Griffin: “She must have been the most important influence on her daughter and
namesake.”
Ambitions
 Agrippina lived with great-grandmother, Livia:
o Became aware of political intrigue and disputes
o Learnt need for political caution and diplomacy
o Learnt need for influential friends and support of military (patronage)
o Understood need for sex, wealth and power
o Gave sense of importance: understood own lineage  gave her courage to plan
continuance of family line
 Influenced by Agrippina the Elder:
o Promoted sons to be in line for emperorship
o Cultivated military  appeared to want power (influence of Germanicus)
o Tacitus: concerned with masculine matters (military)
Marriages
 1: Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (AD 28)
o Suetonius: arranged by Tiberius
o Descendant of prestigious family
o Not a threat to Tiberius
o Related to Augustus
o AD 32: Became consul  influential figure
o AD 37: Birth of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus – later named Nero
o AD 39: Ahenobarbus becomes ill from dropsy
o AD 40: Death of Ahenobarbus  brings much wealth to Agrippina
 2: Crispus (AD 44)
o Barrett: Wealthy and noble senator
o Need to re-establish herself as credible citizen with political influence
o Improved her financial and political status
o Protection from Messalina  Nero threat to Britannicus’ succession of Claudius
o AD 47: Death of Crispus  left Agrippina extremely wealthy
 3: Claudius (AD 49)

o Agrippina’s uncle
o Incestuous  Claudius granted special approval from the Senate
o Statue from the Sebasteion in Aphrodisias, depicting Claudius and Agrippina
together  marital affection
o Strengthened Nero’s position by arranging marriage with Octavia
o Major political influence
o Caused clash between Agrippina and Messalina  Britannicus seen as a barrier to
Nero’s succession
3. Career
Basis of her power and influence; patronage
 Family background  Marriages  Motherhood  Patronage

 Ancestry  great-grandfather = Augustus
 Mother (Agrippina the Elder) and Father (Germanicus)  well respected and popular in
Rome and provinces
 Sister of emperor Gaius
 Marriages to Ahenobarbus and Crispus = wealth  proved as matron
 Birth of Nero with Ahenobarbus  enhanced respect as mother – fertility  accepted in
Roman society
 Nero  possible heir
 Power based on talents and intelligence to manipulate others
 Patronage: built a strong network of friends & patrons to help secure her and Nero’s
future
 E.g. Burrus, Seneca, Claudius, Vitellius etc.
Role during the reign of Gaius (Caligula), including exile

 Gaius acceded in AD 37
 Immediately bestowed the rights and privileges of the Vestal Virgins on Agrippina, and
sisters Drusilla & Livilla
 Exempted from male guardianship
 Access to imperial seats in games (usually not allowed for women)
 Included in proposals submitted to Senate
 Cassius Dio: sisters included in the annual vows for safety and oaths of allegiance
– Suetonius: “I will hold myself and my children dearer than I hold Gaius and
his sisters”
 Ancient sources suggest Gaius had incestuous relationships with sisters
Barrett: “The enormous favours … has a political purpose, but they also suggest
considerable affection within the family”
 Included on bronze sestertius issued by Gaius AD 38
Agrippina = Securitas of the state and continuance of Julio-Claudian dynasty
 Holds cornucopia: fertility and growth of state
(No Roman coinage had ever depicted Emperor’s sisters)
Exile
 AD 38  Drusilla died  Death changes relationship between Gaius & Agrippina
 Nero perceived as a rival of Gaius  relationship deteriorates
 AD 39  Gaius’ illness  regime/personality changed dramatically
 Conspiracy: accused Agrippina and Livilla of plotting against him & committing adultery
with Lepidus
 Barrett: Agrippina used Lepidus to secure Nero’s safety after Ahenobarbus’ death
(AD40)
 Lepidus = executed
 Gaetulicus = arrested and executed for involvement
 Agrippina and Livilla = exiled to Pontian Islands
 Cassius Dio: Gaius humiliated Agrippina  “Agrippina was given Lepidus’ bones in
an urn and bidden to carry it back to Rome…”
 Claudius recalled Agrippina and Livilla to Rome upon accession
Role during the reign of Claudius

 Suetonius: Claudius’ reign “dictated by his wives and freedmen”
Marriage
 Agrippina recommended by Pallas

 Right family background, fertile & young
 Suetonius: “She had a niece’s privilege of kissing and caressing Claudius”
 Incestuous  law amended through influence of Vitellius on Senate  allowed to marry
 Marriage = Claudius acquired connection with Julian line
 Holland: marriage  “political reasons”
 Gemma Claudia: Agrippina as goddess of fertility, with Germanicus & Agrippina (Julian
line)
 Statue at Sebasteion in Aphrodisias:
 Claudius and Agrippina clasping hands – marital affection
 Agrippina holding cornucopia: fertility and prosperity of the Roman Empire
Claudius’ adoption of Nero

 Ancient sources  suggest part of Agrippina’s plan to gain power for Nero
 Pallas played vital role  Close relationship with Agrippina
 Significance = Claudius gave precedence over Britannicus
 Thought unwise to have 9-year-old B as only successor
 Agrippina tried to strengthen Nero’s power  arranged marriage with C’s daughter
Octavia
 Already engaged to Silanus
 Agrippina made Vitellius lay charge in Senate against Silanus, for incest with sister
 Silanus committed suicide
 Ancient sources: Agrippina eliminated other members of Silanus family  descendants
of Augustus and threats to Nero’s power  Inc. Marcus Junius Silanus & Junia Calvina
 Began replacing people in prominent positions who were loyal to Messalina
 PP’s: removed Geta and Crispinus – replaced with Burrus
Image and Status

 Mock battle at opening of Fucine Lake
 Agrippina wore golden military cloak – first woman to wear military garment in Rome
 Claudius and Nero wore simple military cloaks
 Founded veteran’s colony in Germany: modern day Cologne
 Popular in provinces – had many clients & supporters
 Public statues erected in Gaul, Asia Minor & Greece
 Tacitus: surrender of Caratacus
 Importance and status = best illustration
 Seated on dais near emperor  offered “same homage and gratitude”
 Tacitus = not impressed by display of female importance
“She was asserting her partnership in the empire her ancestors had won” = she
didn’t deserve it.
 Wood: “public acknowledgement and institutionalisation of her role in foreign
and provincial affairs”
Titles and honours

 AD50: given title Augusta
 Barrett: “conveyed notion of empress”
“She could lay equal claim to majesty of emperor”
 Cassius Dio: “She wanted the same title as his [Claudius]”
 Given honour of riding carpentum: carriage reserved for priests and religious objects
Claudius’ death
 Tacitus & Suetonius: Claudius eventually unhappy with choice of wives and
arrangement of Nero as successor instead of Britannicus
 Tacitus & Cassius Dio: Agrippina main perpetrator of Claudius’ death through
poisoned mushrooms
 Modern sources: No forensic evidence = we’ll never know truth about Claudius’ death
Role and changing relationship with Nero during his reign

Role
 Nero: First password given to Praetorian guard on day of accession
 Suetonius: optima mater, ‘the best of mothers’
 Early in reign  Grant: “Empire was ruled by a woman”
 Seneca & Burrus (chosen by Agrippina)  influenced Senate to give Nero honours
 When Claudius deified - Senate appointed Agrippina priestess of the cult of the divine
Claudius
 Gave her two lictors (protectors of magistrates and those in power)
 Sculpture from Sebasteion at Aphrodisias – Agrippina crowning Nero
 Significant role in Nero’s succession
 Coin depicting Agrippina and Nero confronting each other
 First imperial woman to appear on same side as emperor on Roman coinage
 Dio: “At first Agrippina managed for him all imperial business”
 Tacitus: “Every outward honour was heaped on Agrippina”
Changing relationship with Nero

 Claudian legislation
 Senate changed C’s legislation regarding maximum fee to be charged by advocates
 Tacitus: Senate “forbade advocates to receive fees or gifts”
 Agrippina argued that because he was deified, his legislation could not be amended –
BUT passed anyway
 Despite Agrippina’s objections, Senate passed legislation that excused quaestors from
obligation to hold gladiatorial games
* Nero did not support Agrippina’s claim  relationship waning
 Armenian delegation – Tacitus

 Agrippina attempted to mount emperor’s dais while Nero was receiving Armenian
delegation
 Seneca intervened, telling Nero to step down to meet his mother and take her to
another seat
 Influence of Seneca and Burrus

 Gradually replaced Agrippina as chief advisors
 Took control of administration of affairs
 Acte
 To ensure place on throne, Nero married Claudius’ daughter Octavia (arranged by
Agrippina)
 After succession – Affair with freedwomen Acte  shame to principate
 Ancient sources: Agrippina furious at having son have affair with ex-slave
 Nero aggravated: Seneca appointed Serenus as gift-giver so mother wouldn’t find out
 AD 55 - Removal from Palace

 Nero removed Pallas from position – lessen Agrippina’s influence
 Tacitus: Agrippina began to support Britannicus to make Nero jealous
 Agrippina held secret meetings with officers and nobleman to try and gain support against
Nero
 Consequentially:
– Nero removed Praetorian bodyguard
– Removed her from Palace on Palatine Hill  lived by herself at Bauli
– Removed German body guards & military escorts
Weidemann “Agrippina’s loss of influence is illustrated by the disappearance of her
portrait from the coinage.”
 AD 57/58 – Poppaea Sabina

 Nero’s mistress
 Senatorial background: originally married to Otho (future emperor)
 Threat to Agrippina’s power
 Tacitus: AD 58 – Agrippina attempts to seduce Nero to regain control over Nero

 “All decked out and ready for incest”
 Nero killed his mother
Relationships with members of the imperial court: Seneca, Burrus and imperial freedmen
 Demonstration of Agrippina’s exertion of patronage
 Patron expected to assist clients and relatives – advancing their careers
 Client had to support patron
Seneca Burrus Imperial Freedmen Senators Julio-Claudians

Initially loyal  Given sole control Pallas Vitellius: Strong relationship
owed her his of Praetorian Guard Supported marriage influenced Senate
position in AD 51  to Claudius to amend law for Similar life to
Previous Agrippina to marry great-grandmother
Loyalty reversed commanders (Geta Pushed for Nero’s Claudius Livia  both
through Nero’s and Crispinus) were adoption Stated that: clever &
reign loyal to Britannicus  Emperor needed ambitious, married
 Agrippina had May have been support of wife to emperor and
Principal ally of them replaced lovers – extremely  Agrippina fertile, used position to
Agrippina close aristocratic & promote sons
Burrus encouraged virtuous
Descendent from P.G to accept Nero Gave her extreme Used powers to
highly conservative over Britannicus wealth destroy those in
family after Claudius’ JC’s who
death Increased her threatened her or
Exiled to Corsica by aristocratic rank Nero
Messaline  AD 49
Agrippina Feared Domitia
convinced Claudius Narcissus (Ahenobarbus’
to recall Seneca to Opposed sister) could
become tutor of Agrippina’s control Nero 
Nero influences looked after him
while she in exile
Relationship began Loyal to Claudius   Brought
to wane when military charges against
Seneca realised her for use of
that serving Nero as Draining of the black magic
princeps gave him Fucine Lake 
greater power Agrippina accused
Narcissus for failure
Tacitus: Wrote of opening
Nero’s inaugural ceremony
address  “From
my house bribery Tacitus: Agrippina
and favouritism killed Narcissus
will be excluded”
 Restriction of
Agrippina’s power
Armenian
delegation:
Seneca advised
Nero to step down
and take Agrippina
to other seat
Impact of her personality on career: public image

Impact of Personality on career
 Strong and powerful
 Immense ambition, willpower
 Enjoyed wealth
 Intellectual and determined
 Position in imperial family allowed her to use these personal traits to gain power and
influence
Public image
 Gruen: Archaeological evidence portrays different from written sources
 Coins, busts, statues and reliefs  high profile
 Gaius coin AD 38:
 First appeared on coin

 Portrayed as Securitas
 Unpleasant image by Tacitus & Suetonius
 During Claudius’ reign
 Titled as Augusta on coins
 Shown wearing crown of wheat  associated with Demeter goddess of fertility
 Shown with Claudius on obverse
Source: http://www.ancientmoney.org/re/claudius_agrippina_cisto.html
 Nero’s reign
 Coin: Nero and Agrippina confronting each other – Agrippina’s prominence
“Agrippina Augusta, Wife of the Divine Claudius, Mother of Nero Caesar”
 Coin: obverse: Nero and Agrippina– reverse: elephant chariot with Augustus &
Claudius
“By the decree of the Senate, Agrippina Augusta, Wife of the Divine Claudius,
Mother of Nero Caesar”
 Barrett:
o Evidence suggests she was a distinctly unattractive individual
o Politically ambitious people tend not to be appealing
o When Agrippina is judged by her achievements rather than her personality or
character, that she demands admiration
Attempts on her life

 AD 55: Nero and Agrippina’s relationship began to wane
 Nero had enough of Agrippina’s interference with his relationships  began to plan
matricide
 Dismissed Pallas, removed her from palace, took away privileges, lictors and bodyguard
 When removed from palace  Agrippina in danger
o Julia Silana asked two clients to charge Agrippina for plotting to marry Rubellius
Plautius and replace Nero on the throne
o Tacitus: Nero “resolved to kill his mother, to kill Plautius, and to depose
Burrus from the command of the Praetorian Guard”
o Nero gave her a hearing
 Poppaea Sabina  teased Nero for relationship with Acte, marriage to Octavia and
dependence on Aggrippina
 Nero – only way to break her power was to kill her
 Anicetus  proposed plan
 Suetonius: Three Attempts

1. Poison
2. Collapsible bed
3. Collapsible boat
Death
Motives
 AD 58: Nero’s relationship with Poppaea Sabina  consistently urged Nero to kill
Agrippina
 Tacitus & Suetonius: Nero wished to free himself from Agrippina’s influence
 Model Roman matron: Worked diligently to achieve power for Nero only for him to
resent her
 Dixon: Relationship of Agrippina and Nero based on political, sexual and emotional
dependence
 Dominance threated Nero’s pride and security in imperial office
 Nero’s divorce to Octavia & marriage to Poppaea not possible with Agrippina alive
Manner
 Died AD 59
 Burrus warns Nero not use Praetorian Guards to kill Agrippina  may reject and turn on
him
 1. Suetonius: tried to poison three times
 2. Nero has craftsmen create mechanism that would make ceiling of Agrippina’s
bedchamber collapse in her sleep  Agrippina noticed so failed – didn’t conceal well
enough
 3. During festival of Minerva, Nero invited Agrippina to dine at Baiae
 On way home: Nero put Agrippina on collapsible boat that would cause her to drown
 Plan failed: Agrippina swam to shore  Nero panic-stricken and aggravated
 4. Nero selected three assassins led by Anicetus to murder Agrippina
 Tacitus: she exclaimed: “Strike my womb, because it bore Nero”
 Cassius Dio: Nero - upon viewing her dead body:
“I did not know I had so beautiful a mother”
Impact of death
 Nero’s reign deteriorated (death of Poppaea, raping vestal virgins)
 Didn’t return to Rome for 6 months  presented speech to Senate justifying his act of
matricide
o Tacitus: “she had wanted to be co-ruler”
 Crime of matricide: shocked Rome and diminished authority BUT Nero faced no
consequences for crime
 Agrippina’s birthday added to ill-omen days
 Ancient sources: Nero haunted by Agrippina’s ghost
4. Evaluation
Impact and influence on her time
 Exerted considerable authority and power in imperial Roman society
 Influential through family background (Augustus, Germanicus, Livia)
 Granted honours and privileges
 Greatest impact = role in Gaius, Claudius & Nero’s reigns
Gaius
o Coinage: promoted as Securitas
o Vital in downfall of Gaius
Claudius
o Impact = Enormous
o Ability to manipulate key alliances  Pallas
o Influenced change in Roman legislation to marry Claudius (incest)
o Succession  adoption & promotion of Nero
o Appointment of PRAETORIAN GUARD  influence shown when Burrus denies the
use of the PRAETORIAN GUARD to murder Agrippina
o Patron-client relationships (Seneca, Burrus, Pallas)
o Able to exile or eliminate rivals (Paulina – rival for marriage to Claudius)
o Veteran’s colony named after her in Germany
o Prominence at public events (Caratacus ceremony)

o Granted title Augusta (only woman in her lifetime except Livia)
o Sebasteion relief: marital relationship
o Death of Claudius = accession of Nero
Nero
o Critical in accession of Nero  worked tirelessly to remove any rivals (Messalina,
Britannicus) to ensure succession
o Granted honours, privileges and appears on coins (confronting coin)
o Worked alongside Seneca and Burrus  broke gender stereotypes – women
weren’t expected to be involved in politics, not natural role (shown in written
evidence)
o Grant: “For a few startling and unprecedented months, the empire was ruled
by a woman.”
 Ancient Sources
o Hostile towards Agrippina for her ambition
o Portray as evil & ambitious woman  thirsty for power
o Scullard: agrees with Tacitus: “no man or woman was safe if she suspected
rivalry or desired their wealth”
 Modern Sources
o Assessment of life and career in context
o Politically astute woman
o Used her talents to succeed
o Contributed to strength and stability of Julio-Claudian dynasty
o Bauman: “redoubled her efforts when she herself was given the title of
Augusta”
o Barrett: Coin with Agrippina and Nero confronting
“The three roles that brought her the greatest pride”
“Most powerful hint that Agrippina saw herself as a kind of regent or co-ruler
with her son, a position that had no precedent in Roman law or tradition”
Assessment of her life and career

 Extremely successful woman  immense wealth, status and power
 Rome and provinces  honoured with titles, privileges, statues, coins
 Acknowledged as Claudius’ “partner in power”
 Early in Nero’s reign = most powerful woman in the empire
 Conflict between ancient and modern sources  Hard to form clear picture of Agrippina
and motives
o Ancient
 Tacitus  harsh portrayal
 Male perspectives (Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio)
 Wicked, scheming mother
 Seductress
 Violent and intimidating woman
 Know her thoughts and motives BUT lived 2 generations after!
o Modern
 Consider ancient writer’s context, gender, political persuasion, literary style
and the sources they refer to
 Barrett: suggests need for balanced assessment between ancient and
modern
 Ferrero: noble portrait – “respectable, active, and energetic woman”
Assessment Explanation
She was proud of  Knew how to display Augustan lineage
her ancestry &  Securitas  continuation of the Julian line
gave her  Impact on Claudius: established link with Julian line
opportunity to  C’s adoption of Nero: ensured Julian would become ruler
share in political  Nero’s accession: Agrippina felt her lineage, status and experience entitled
power her to involve herself in the regime
She learnt from  Suffered great hardship through loss of relatives (Agrippina the Elder,
her experience Germanicus, Drusilla, Gaius)
 Married to violent man at 13
 Gaius’ extreme Principate  gave honours, accused of treason,
confiscated property & exiled her
 Learnt methods used by powerful people to eliminate threats or opponents
 Saw damage of incompetent rule
She was  Prevented herself from harm during Tiberius’ reign when other imperial
politically astute members were persecuted
 Made the most of marriage to Claudius  security for Agrippina and Nero,
enhanced Nero’s status, adoption
 Gained support of clever men through patronage
(Pallas, Vitellius, Seneca, Burrus)
 “Partner in power”  maintained influence in provinces, received
foreign embassies
 Ensured Nero had support of Praetorians before he was presented to
the Senate
She was  Key role in Nero’s succession and rise to prominence
intelligent,  Used same methods by powerful men in her family  patronage and
ambitious and removed potential rivals through trials, banishment and execution
determined  Tacitus: Understanding of Roman politics
 Realised ambition through Claudius’ reign
Weaknesses  Disregard for Roman political convention  not acceptable for women to
exercise immense political power to senatorial class
 Agrippina’s relationship with Nero upon accession  reluctant to surrender
her power and influence for Nero
 Seneca and Burrus owed positions BUT turned against her upon Nero and
Agrippina’s diminishing relationship
 Very conservative  outraged by Nero’s relationship with Acte
 Condemned Nero’s spending  lead to downfall of relationship and status
Legacy
 Physical  representations on coins, cameos, statues
 Redefined status of women in the Roman political system  broke down stereotypes
 Warning to aspiring political women = price of influence and power may be death
 Extraordinary woman who was at the centre of power in Rome
 Political achievements = remarkable
 Exercised immense power and influence when there was no official political role
available to women
 Key in Nero’s succession
 Last women to exert this much power for another 150 years
 Tacitus: “unique as the daughter of a great commander and the sister, wife and
mother of emperors”
 Ancient sources  negative stereotype used for intelligent or powerful women
o Overreaching ambition, use of ruthless means (poison) to achieve ambition,
incestuous
o Opposite of the Roman matron
 Greatest legacy of her power = Nero’s succession: BUT unfortunately murdered her &
destroyed her statues and name from inscriptions & public buildings
 No political/supporting groups formed after her death  supporters had been removed
 Emperors after Nero  didn’t commemorate her life and achievements
 Appears in modern day opera, film and television
o I, Claudius by Robert Graves  depicts Agrippina through Tacitus’ account – wicked,
evil
Ancient and modern images and interpretations of Agrippina the Younger
Ancient images
 Portrayed as very powerful, respected and as traditional Roman matron
Image Explanation
Bronze coin, a sestertius, issued by Gaius  Display of privileges given to Agrippina
in AD 38, depicting his three sisters  First Roman coin to depict emperor’s sisters
 Securitas = security of the state and of the
Julio-Claudian dynasty (through son Nero)
 Holding cornucopia = fertility, prosperity
 Basis of brother’s leadership
Source: http://www.steffmetal.com/metal-
history-caligula/
The Gemma Claudia  Agrippina as Cybele goddess of fertility
Five-layered onyx cameo c. AD 49  Depicted with highly respected Germanicus,
Agrippina the Elder and emperor Claudius
Source: http://www.gemmarius-
sculptor.de/info6.htm
Statue of Agrippina and Claudius from  Concordia (unity) and marital affection 
the Sebasteion in Aphrodisias Agrippina and Claudius clasping hands
 Holding corn stalk in left hand  symbol of
prosperity of Roman empire
 Roman matron wearing stola
 Represented as Demeter (goddess of fertility)
 Marriage = new beginning for Rome
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/julio-
claudians/2172143511
Statue of Agrippina the Younger and her  Roman matron  stola and palla
son Nero  Securitas of the continuity of the Julio-Claudian
dynasty
Source:
https://www.pinterest.com/scrabscott/agrippi
na-major-minor/
Bust of Agrippina the Younger  Respectable Roman matron

 Physical features resemble Germanicus
 Reminded people of parents and lineage
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrippina_the_
Younger#/media/File:Rome_Agrippina_Mino
r.jpg
Coin of Agrippina, Nero, Claudius &  Depicted on coin with Nero
Augustus  Reverse  Divine Claudius and Augustus
Source: http://www.romancoins.info/12C-
JulioClaud.HTML
Nero and Agrippina confronting  Depicted on same side as Nero (confronting)

 Immense influence in his reign and succession
 Co-ruler?  Influence and power
Source:
http://www.johndclare.net/AncientHistory/Ag
rippina_Sources9.html
Ancient Interpretations
 Portrayed as immoral, brutal, ambitious, murderer
Interpretation Explanation
Tacitus  Roman senator and historian
 Born AD 55  infant when Agrippina died
 Did not see events or hear conversations he accounts for
 Biased: Hostile towards Principate, Julio-Claudians and the JC women
 Conservative  admired tradition Roman values regarding women
 Agrippina: ambition and power “almost masculine”
 Holds Agrippina accountable for Nero’s poor character and leadership
 Three Stereotypes
1. Wicked stepmother:
o Stepmother: Highlights familial dysfunction of Julio-Claudians
2. Commander woman:
o Inappropriately aspires to male military or political power
o E.g. Incidence at surrender of Caratacus, Armenian delegation
3. The Sexual Transgressor
o Incestuous and adulterous
o Uncontrolled female sexuality = sign of familial disorder
o Men in Julio-Claudians = weak because couldn’t control

Agrippina
o Metaphor for political weakness of emperor and reign
o Incest = violation of divine and natural law
o “Monstrous wickedness”
o “All decked out and ready for incest”
Suetonius  Roman biographer NOT historian

 Born a decade after her death  Not eyewitness
 Friend of Pliny the Younger  access to political and historical sources
BUT used uncritically
 Includes omens, gossip, rumour and scandal
 Doesn’t portray her as serious, noble
 Derogatory towards BUT does not accuse for Claudius’ death
 Not reliable source  based on interest and entertainment
Cassius Dio  Born 165 AD  out of context

 Father – Roman senator
 Dio held consulship himself
 Valuable: covers whole JC period (only surviving source for some
events)
 Conservative  believed in tradition Roman values
 Disapproved growing influence of imperial freedmen and wives
 Saw JC’s as moving away from Augustan ideals
 Had access to Agrippina’s memoirs
 Wrote to send a moral message to readers  to learn from people’s
past mistakes
 Depicts as determined woman who would go at any lengths to achieve
ambition
Modern Interpretations
 Portrayed as immoral, brutal, ambitious, murderer
Interpretation Explanation
Barrett  Attempts to correct distorted portrait created by ancient and modern
sources
 Background shaped Agrippina’s character
 Acknowledges: ruthless, unethical & used illegal and legal means to
achieve ambition
 BUT admires intelligence, political ability
 Should be judged by achievements not personality
 Suggests worked harmoniously with Claudius  positive contribution to
his reign
 Less charges for maiestas
 Less opposition to his rule during marriage
 Argues Agrippina transformed reign from “repressive dictatorship”
To “relatively benign partnership between ruler and ruled”
 Impossible to know truth about Claudius’ death
 Loyalty to Claudius after death as priestess
 Co-regent with Nero: height of Nero’s reign
 Argues role not diminished by Seneca and Burrus
 Always had support of Praetorian Guard (Refused to kill her)
Judge  Analyses prominence in social and political Rome

 Women shared as much power and influence as men
 Popular and prestigious with Praetorian Guard & Army  through father
Germanicus
Ferrero  Only POSITIVE interpretation

 Condemns Tacitus’ account: “crude and superficial falsification”
 Expresses hate for harsh treatment of Agrippina in historical record
 Marriage to Claudius  self-sacrifice to advance Nero
 Intelligent and respectable woman
 Brought prestige and stability to C’s reign
 Gave great rise to freedmen
 Re-organised state’s finances
 Challenges Agrippina’s murder of Claudius  sees no motive (so many
honours and privileges under C’s reign)
 Stability of Nero’s early reign  credit to Agrippina’s leadership skills
 Nero’s relationship with Acte = decline of influence
 “Died like a soldier on duty…bravely defining the social and
political traditions of the Roman aristocracy”
Reference List
Images
 Claudius ruled AD 41-54. [Image] (n.d.) Retrieved June 24, 2015, from
http://www.ancientmoney.org/re/claudius_agrippina_cisto.html
 A Roman coin showing Caligula. The back depicts his three sisters, with
whom he carried out incestuous relationships. [Image] (2010) Retrieved June 24,
2015, from http://www.steffmetal.com/metal-history-caligula/
 Die Gemma Claudia inmitten der caliguläischen und claudischen
Kameenkunst. [Image] (2009) Retrieved June 24, 2015, from
http://www.gemmarius-sculptor.de/info6.htm
 678 Claudius and Agrippina. [Image] (2008) Retrieved June 24, 2015, from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/julio-claudians/2172143511
 Statue of seated woman pointing to child wearing toga and bulla view from
side. [Image] (n.d.) Retrieved June 24, 2015, from
https://www.pinterest.com/scrabscott/agrippina-major-minor/
 Rome Agrippina Minor. [Image] (n.d.) Retrieved June 24, 2015, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrippina_the_Younger#/media/File:Rome_Agrippina
_Minor.jpg
 Nero and his mother Agrippina II. [Image] (n.d.) Retrieved June 24, 2015, from
http://www.romancoins.info/12C-JulioClaud.HTML
 Agrippina’s depiction on coinage in Nero’s reign. [Image] (n.d.) Retrieved June
24, 2015, from http://www.johndclare.net/AncientHistory/Agrippina_Sources9.html

3297agrippina The Younger Study Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

3297agrippina The Younger Study Notes

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

3297agrippina The Younger Study Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stephanie Azzopardi HSC ANCIENT HISTORY

HSC Ancient History

Resources of Rome and the Roman Empire

Overview of Roman social and political structures; principate

 Government established by Augustus in 27 BC

Cursus honoroum (Ladder of political offices)

Livia  Wife of Augustus

Octavia  Promoted traditional Roman values

Antonia  Daughter of Octavia and Mark Antony

Julia  Daughter of Augustus

Agrippina  Married Germanicus

2. Background and rise to prominence

Early life, ambitions and marriages

 3: Claudius (AD 49)

 Family background  Marriages  Motherhood  Patronage

Role during the reign of Gaius (Caligula), including exile

Role during the reign of Claudius

 Agrippina recommended by Pallas

Claudius’ adoption of Nero

Image and Status

Titles and honours

Role and changing relationship with Nero during his reign

Changing relationship with Nero

 Armenian delegation – Tacitus

 Influence of Seneca and Burrus

 AD 55 - Removal from Palace

 AD 57/58 – Poppaea Sabina

 Tacitus: AD 58 – Agrippina attempts to seduce Nero to regain control over Nero

 Nero killed his mother

Seneca Burrus Imperial Freedmen Senators Julio-Claudians

Impact of her personality on career: public image

 First appeared on coin

Attempts on her life

 Suetonius: Three Attempts

o Prominence at public events (Caratacus ceremony)

Assessment of her life and career

Ancient and modern images and interpretations of Agrippina the Younger

Bust of Agrippina the Younger  Respectable Roman matron

Nero and Agrippina confronting  Depicted on same side as Nero (confronting)

o Men in Julio-Claudians = weak because couldn’t control

Suetonius  Roman biographer NOT historian

Cassius Dio  Born 165 AD  out of context

 Always had support of Praetorian Guard (Refused to kill her)

Judge  Analyses prominence in social and political Rome

Ferrero  Only POSITIVE interpretation

You might also like