Agrippina s life sheds light on the julioclaudian dynasty and rome at its height the chaos. With agrippa s death in 12 bc, augustus wife, livia, was able to convince him to favour her own sons by a former marriage, tiberius and drusus, as possible successors. Agrippina, semiramis, and the philological construction of gender roles in early modern germany lohensteins agrippina, 1665 by renaissance quarterly. A specially made agrippina postcard, with a roman sticker on it and a little handwritten fact about whatever the sticker is of. He germanicus was married to agrippina, the granddaughter of augustus, who bore him. Germanicus was the nephew and adopted son of tiberius, the second emperor of rome. In her own time, she was recognized as a woman of unparalleled power. Agrippina the younger, granddaughter of augustus, rome s first emperor. Jan 04, 2002 adoption affair agrippa agrippa postumus agrippina augusta agrippina the elder agrippina the younger antonia apocolocyntosis appointment arval asia augustus baiae bauli britannicus brother caesar caligula certainly charge claim claud claudian claudius clearly coins conspiracy consul consulship daughter death dios domitius drusilla drusus. Born to drusus and antonia minor at lugdunum in roman gaul, where his father was stationed as a military legate, he was the first roman emperor to be born outside italy. Beautiful and intelligent, she was portrayed as alternately a ruthless murderer and helpless victim, the most loving mother and the most powerful woman of the roman empire, using sex, motherhood, manipulation, and violence to get her way, and. Agrippina the younger s ancestry on both sides of her family thus converged on augustus. Agrippina was born as the second daughter and fourth child to roman statesman and augustus ally marcus vipsanius agrippa and julia the elder.
Julia the elder 30 october 39 bc ad 14, known to her contemporaries as julia caesaris filia or julia augusti filia classical latin. Agrippina has been one of the most maligned and powerful women in the julioclaudian dynasty. Well take a look at each parent in turn, because agrippinas genetics were a major part of how her life turned out. This book follows agrippina as a daughter, born in cologne, to the expected heir to augustus s throne. Nero became emperor of rome after the death of claudius, who was thought to have been poisoned by his wife agrippina, who also happened to be nero s mother. She suffers one accidental disadvantage, essentially trivial but often a curse on posthumous reputations. This books is a strong reminder that for much of socalled ancient history, historians. It is possible, as tacitus says, that marriage with claudius was the height of agrippinas ambition, but it is also possible that it was an act of supreme selfsacrifice on the part of a woman who had been educated in the traditions of the roman aristocracy, and who therefore considered herself merely a means to the political advancement of her relatives and. Beautiful and intelligent, she was portrayed as alternately a ruthless murderer and helpless victim, the most loving.
Augustus, and daughter of the beloved roman general, germanicus. Sister of caligula, wife of claudius, mother of nero roman imperial biographies anthony a. Her husband was tiberius s biological nephew and adoptive son. But as one of nine children, six of whom lived to maturity, she was not the. Agrippinas mother julia was the only natural child born to augustus from his second marriage to noblewoman scribonia her fathers marriage to julia was his third marriage. He shows how agrippinas political contribution to her time seems in fact to have been positive, and that when she is judged by her achievements she demands admiration. In ad 15 she was simultaneously the stepdaughter, niece and daughterinlaw of the reigning emperor tiberius. Dir atlas agrippina the elder donna hurley vipsania agrippina, always simply agrippina or agrippina the elder, when it is necessary to distinguish her from agrippina the younger, was a daughter of marcus vipsanius agrippa and of julia, the daughter and only child of the emperor augustus. She was the daughter of the popular general germanicus, who had been heir apparent to the imperial throne under tiberius. Agrippina the youngers ancestry on both sides of her family thus converged on augustus. Her husband was tiberiuss biological nephew and adoptive son. Agrippina the most extraordinary woman of the roman world emma southon. Agrippina was the first daughter and fourth living child of agrippina the elder and germanicus.
Sister to caligula, wife to claudius, mother to nero, and a shrewd politician and powerhungry figure in her own right, agrippinas life is much more than a fascinating biography it is a portrait of a singular dynasty in all its corrupted glory. In ad 15 she was simultaneously the stepdaughter, niece and daughter inlaw of the reigning emperor tiberius. Agrippina book san francisco public library bibliocommons. The most extraordinary woman of the roman world by. According to ancient sources, she achieved her success by plotting against her brother, the emperor caligula, murdering her husband, the emperor claudius, and controlling her son, the emperor nero, by sleeping with him. I have no problem with books about women and their very significant if admittedly. Agrippina jr 3rd wife of claudius mother nero armstrong. Lucretia slid the white silk from ionas shoulder to reveal a. A lively and intermittently pottymouthed biography of neros. In 39 ad, agrippina was banished by her brother, the emperor caligula, for plotting against. The story of agrippina, at the center of imperial power for three generations, is the. Julia was also stepsister and second wife of the emperor tiberius. One of historys most notorious monsters is rehabilitated as a politically successful woman whose power and reputation in firstcentury rome fell victim to roman sexism.
Agrippina was the sister of caligula, the wife of claudius and the mother of nero. Mar 01, 2020 agrippina was the fourth surviving child and first daughter born to vipsania agrippina and germanicus caesar, making her a greatgranddaughter of the wildly successful and famous former emperor augustus. This book follows agrippina as a daughter, born to the expected heir to augustus s throne, who was then orphaned, as a sister to caligula who raped his sisters. Ionas hands went directly to lucretias hips and massaged her bottom before climbing her back and getting lost in her raven curls. Woman of the roman world by emma southon 2019 pegasus books. Time has certainly not been kind to agrippinas memory. Born in 15 ad, she is generally described as one of the most influential women of the julioclaudian dynasty. If so, she was the first grandchild to octavia minor and first greatniece to roman emperor augustus. She was first married to gnaeus domitius ahenobarbus, a member of the noble republican family of ahenobarbus, and together they had a son, the future emperor nero. Agrippina is a smart choice for those who think they probably wont enjoy ancient. Agrippina by emma southon, 9781643781, available at book depository. Agrippina, that she might not be conspicuous only by her evil deeds, procured for annaeus. This book follows agrippina as a daughter, born in cologne, to the expected. The emperor listened, for his affection for his daughter inclined him the more to admit suspicions against his soninlaw.
Vipsania marcella agrippina or marcellina born 27 bc was perhaps the only daughter to roman statesman marcus vipsanius agrippa from his second wife claudia marcella major. Agrippina was the greatgranddaughter of the primus inter pares, emperor augustus, and daughter of the beloved roman general, germanicus. Nor would she wait till her son repented or wearied of his passion. Grimanis libretto, considered one of the best that handel set. Not that silanus had provoked destruction by any violence of temper, apathetic as he was, and so utterly despised under former despotisms, that caius caesar used to call him the golden sheep. Agrippina s two eldest brothers and her mother were victims of the intrigues of the praetorian prefect lucius aelius sejanus. Tolstoys famous phrase that every happy family is alike, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way was tailormade for one particular roman family.
Agrippinas mother, agrippina the elder, was a daughter of julia, augustus natural daughter and only child, and of marcus agrippa, augustus valued helper in his climb to the top. Nero became emperor of rome after the death of claudius, who was thought to have been poisoned by his wife agrippina, who also happened to be neros mother. Marcus agrippa did not belong to one of romes distinguished. Sep, 2019 tolstoys famous phrase that every happy family is alike, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way was tailormade for one particular roman family. Agrippina the younger, granddaughter of augustus, romes first emperor. Agrippina s life sheds light on the julioclaudian dynasty and rome at its height the chaos, blood and politics of it all as well as the place of women in the roman world. The story of agrippina, at the center of imperial power for three generations, is the story of the julioclaudia dynastyand of rome itself. Agrippina the younger 1559 ce was a roman empress and key figure in the julioclaudian dynasty, rome s first set of imperial families. Her first major connection to the throne was when her. May 25, 2005 images of agrippina the younger in 54 a.
Her brother was the third emperor of rome, caligula. Julia agrippina, mother of the roman emperor nero and a powerful influence on him during the early years of his reign 5468. A close investigation of the elder agrippina s entire productive life will show that mommsen s chronology of the children is more plausible, and can be accepted with minor improvements. Claudius forth wife was julia agrippina, known to us as agrippina the younger.
It was first translated into english by naomi walford in great britain by methuen and united states by pantheon books in. Caesar was that of his stepdaughter and adoptive daughterinlaw, agrippina. She survived the first two but was murdered by the latter in spectacular style. Jan, 2020 the daughter of germanicus caesar and vipsania agrippina, julia agrippina was the sister of emperor caligula or gaius. Lucretias long fingers traced the bones in ionas neck and across her shoulders.
Agrippina book tacoma public library bibliocommons. This book follows agrippina as a daughter, born to the expected heir to augustus s throne, who was then orphaned, as a sister to caligula who raped his sisters and showered them with honours until they attempted rebellion against him and were exiled, as a seductive niece and then wife to claudius who gave her access to near unlimited power, and. She had three elder brothers, nero caesar, drusus caesar, and the future emperor caligula, and two younger sisters, julia drusilla and julia livilla. She was exiled in 39 for taking part in a conspiracy against gaius but was allowed to return to rome in 41. Ivliacaesarisfilia or ivliaavgvstifilia, was the daughter of augustus caesar, the first roman emperor, and his second wife, scribonia. Agrippina was the daughter of germanicus caesar and vipsania agrippina, sister of the emperor gaius, or caligula reigned 3741, and wife of the emperor claudius 4154.
Agrippina book by emma southon official publisher page. Her husband died when nero was only three years old. Composed for the 170910 venice carnevale season, the opera tells the story of agrippina, the mother of nero, as she plots the downfall of the roman emperor claudius and the installation of her son as emperor. In this dynamic new biography the first on agrippina in english professor barrett uses the latest archaeological, numismatic and historical evidence to provide a close and detailed study of her life and career. Agrippina s mother, agrippina the elder, was a daughter of julia, augustus natural daughter and only child, and of marcus agrippa, augustus valued helper in his climb to the top. Where words are blue and underlined, there is also a hyperlink to another site.
This remarkable biography from historian southon marriage, sex, and death follows agrippina the younger 1559 ce, who, as the daughter. The story of agrippina, at the center of imperial power for three generations, is the story of the julioclaudia dynastyand of rome itself, at its bloody, extravagant, chaotic, ruthless, and political zenith. This agrippina is the daughter of agrippina the elder and her husband germanicus. Vipsania agrippina, commonly called agrippina the elder, was the daughter of agrippa augustuss right hand man and julia augustuss daughter. Nero s real name was lucius, but his mother decided that nero claudius caesar was more suitable so she got him to change it. Agrippina the elder project gutenberg selfpublishing. The women of the caesarsagrippina, the mother of nero. This book follows agrippina as a daughter, born to the expected heir to. Agrippina was the fourth surviving child and first daughter born to vipsania agrippina and germanicus caesar, making her a greatgranddaughter of the wildly successful and famous former emperor augustus. The annals by tacitus translated by alfred john church and william jackson brodribb book xii a. Agrippina the younger biography facts, childhood, family.
She was the greatgranddaughter of augustus, the greatniece of tiberius, sister of caligula, niece and wife of claudius, and mother of nero. She became the wife of her uncle, claudius the fourth emperor of rome. Agrippina the younger 1559 ceprominent woman intimately involved in power politics in the roman empire, who was often designated by her relationship to three emperors. After agrippinas marriage to claudius there was a marked decline in the number of judicial executions and there was close cooperation between the senate and the emperor. Vipsania agrippina, commonly called agrippina the elder, was the daughter of agrippa augustus s right hand man and julia augustus s daughter. Agrippina the most extraordinary woman of the roman world book. Her first husband, gnaeus domitius ahenobarbus, was nero s father. In books ii and iii we see agrippina face the death of her husband. Julia had a third son, agrippa postumus, and two daughters, julia and vipsania later known as agrippina the elder.
Agrippina, however, raved with a womans fury about having a freedwoman for a rival, a slave girl for a daughterinlaw, with like expressions. The daughter of germanicus caesar and vipsania agrippina, julia agrippina was the sister of emperor caligula or gaius. This book follows agrippina as a daughter, born in cologne, to the expected heir to augustuss throne. The internet classics archive the annals by tacitus. Agrippina hwv 6 is an opera seria in three acts by george frideric handel with a libretto by cardinal vincenzo grimani. A close investigation of the elder agrippinas entire productive life will show that mommsens chronology of the children is more plausible, and can be accepted with minor improvements.
Several plots to end caligula s rule were formed and discovered before the conspirators could carry out their plans, including one involving his own sisters. Neros real name was lucius, but his mother decided that nero claudius caesar was more suitable so she got him to change it. Agrippina the younger was born on november 6, 15 or 14 in a roman outpost on the rhine river called oppidum ubiorum, presently situated in cologne, germany, as the first daughter of an eminent general of the roman empire germanicus and his wife agrippina the elder, a greatgranddaughter of the first roman emperor augustus. She had a parent of the same name, not as famous infamous in her case but prominent enough for the activities of mother and daughter to be occasionally confused. Caligula, 1990 begins with a brief history of powerful roman women before agrippina, including her greatgrandmother livia, wife of the first roman emperor, augustus.
Agrippina book chicago public library bibliocommons. Agrippina the younger attained a level of power in firstcentury rome unprecedented for a woman. Augustus forced tiberius to divorce his wife and marry. Jan 06, 2020 the story of agrippina, at the center of imperial power for three generations, is the story of the julioclaudia dynastyand of rome itself, at its bloody, extravagant, chaotic, ruthless, and political zenith. Mouseover the emboldened words to read the glosses. Jeg elsket tiberius is a 1959 romance novel by elisabeth dored.
1370 715 176 329 728 1254 1007 163 867 837 567 426 173 1324 1208 1138 180 323 956 87 748 1287 608 1452 260 898 798 643 1023