Syllabus: Agrippina the Younger Flashcards
Ag: Geography of Rome
Region of Latium (West coast of Italy) → central trading route to Etruria and Campania
Fertile plains, Mediterranean climate, crossed by rivers
Roman empire:
- Vast area, centering Mediterranean. (North- Europe) (East- Greece, Asia) (South-Egypt, Africa) (West-Spain)
- Major activity: Agricultural production (grapes,olive oil, cereal)
Ag: Topography of Rome
Apennine mountain range→ wood, marble, stone, clay
River Tiber→ communication and trade mainly by river, access to sea and inland
Army legions patrol borders to defend against invasion,supervise traffic
Ag: Resources of Rome
Italy (volcanic region) fertile soil, fine crops
Rome imports→ beef, grain, timber, oils, wine, glass, marble
Rome exports→ wine, olive oil, papyrus
Roman empire:
- Trade important→ large amounts of food imported from all over empire
- Grain most important→ Had to feed Rome’s urban masses (didn’t produce enough to be self-sufficient)
- Slave trade (from conquered territories)
- India→ Spices, jewels, perfumes
- Egypt, Africa→ Grain, Ivory, Wild animals
- Britain→ Lead, wool, gold, copper, tin
Agrippina: Overview of Roman social and political structures; principate
Class conscious society; clear upper and lower class→ limited means to improve class
More lower than upper class→ keep content “bread and circuses”; food handouts, entertainment
Principate→ system in Rome; originally monarchy but revolt turned to republic
JC was dictator (made enemies; assassinated) Battle of Actium (31 BC) → contest for O or MA rule
Octavian victor→ undisputed control of Roman empire→ position to remodel political affairs
No real blueprint for govt→ principate evolved slowly
No way would he restore ‘real’ power to Senate, but didn’t want to alienate Senate like Caesar→ wanted to be seen sharing power, respecting traditional republican forms
Agrippina: Overview: Settlement of 27BC
Proconsular imperium for 10 years (control of most of legions) Senate to run other provinces
Nominated as consul every year to 23 BC
Gained Egypt after Actium→ controlled wealth, grain
Agrippina: Overview: Settlement of 23BC
“Tribunician authority” for life(pass laws in assemblies, summon senate, veto laws, propose new ones)
Given consular imperium for life
Took on ‘censorial powers’ (supervise membership of senate)
Most of Rome→ happy to have peace with him
Able to nominate successor→ adopted son Tiberius
Mid AD 40’s→ Principate became hereditary monarchy (family connections important)
ATY main goal→ have Nero become princeps
Agrippina: Role of imperial women in Roman society
Royal family→ women raised in palace
No political power (Patriarchal society) Imperial women had some influence; cultivate male allies, develop clientele.
Determining succession→ having son, opportunity for power and influence, occupation→ maneuvering son into power
Women were useful (establishing political alliances) marriage used for political/dynastic purposes
“Betrothals were broken or divorces dictated when alliances between men became animosities.” POMEROY
Females expected to be modest, marry young, large families, behave with dignity
Some owned businesses,able to inherit and hand on property without male permission
Imperial women meant to be educated. Daughters educated in traditional skills (weaving, spinning)
Role of women→ “To mind the house and watch over the children.” TACITUS
Agrippina: Role of imperial women in Roman society
OBJECTIVES OF AUG IN AREA OF MORAL IMPROVEMENT
Reverse upper classes voiding marriage, rejecting duty to have children
Reduce widespread adultery in noble classes
Reduce growing divorce rate
Limit lavish lifestyle of upper class
Passed law preventing men having affairs with respectable women (could have sex with slaves, prostitutes→ some senators wives registered as actresses, prostitutes etc)
Minimum age for marriage (Girls=12) (Boys=14)
Ag: Family background and status
Great granddaughter of Augustus (Julio) Great granddaughter of Livia- Aug 3rd wife (Claudian)
“Agrippina’s exceptionally illustrious birth is indisputable.” TACITUS, ANNALS
Father was beloved germanicus, brother would become Emperor Gaius (Caligula), Uncle (and later husband) would become Emperor Claudius,son would become Emperor Nero
“Her pedigree was impeccable.” S. PEROWNE
Well aware of value of her bloodlines→ later emphasises dynastic connections
“Agrippina…would make much of her Julian descent, a descent that came through the bloodline and was not conferred merely through adoption.” BARRETT
Inherited status from well-connected parents;
Germanicus successful political, military career (fought in Germany, consul in AD 12)
“True, Renaissance man.” SUETONIUS
ATE; active military role→ All 9 children born in military camps
Germanicus managed to suppress serious mutiny in Germany→ made popular with legions
Early life, ambitions and marriages: Overview (Ag)
Born November 15AD (Modern day Cologne)
Early moths spent in Germany, came to live in Rome approx 16 AD. Germanicus viewed as hero
“The triumph of Germanicus…was a memory that his daughter would exploit to the full.” BARRETT
AD 17→ Germanicus sent by Tiberius to east (Ag remained in Rome) Fell ill and died in AD 19; convinced he had been poisoned→ stated Piso (new legate of Syria) and wife conspired to murder him
Rome; widespread grief. Tacitus didn’t attend ceremonies celebrating him→ fueled suspicion of murder, didn’t make him popular
Eventually Tiberius has Piso and Plancina brought to trial→ both accused of murder (took own life)
Progress towards Rome by ATE slow and deliberate→ procession reached Tarrancia, joined by Ag and
Claudius; Barrett; suggests reunion would have been potent, vivid childhood memory for Ag
Following decade→ Destruction of family; Older sons (Nero, Drusus) prepared for high office→ Tiberius complained to Senate it was too quick.
ATE; arrogant, obsessed with power, convinced her lineage made her special→ in danger from Tiberius and Sejanus (right hand man and Praetorian guard prefect)
To protect her sons→ gathered group of powerful aristocratic friends around her. Claims she was forming party “Partes Agrippinae.” If so; “It was the 1st specific political movement formed by a woman.” BAUMANN
Sejanus had them imprisoned on false charges (AD 29)
All died AD 33
“Mother and son were left to starve in their separate places of imprisonment…she must have been the single most important influence on her daughter and namesake.” M.T.GRIFFIN
Marriage 1: Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus
After dad dead; required by law to come under tutelage of guardian (role; arrange suitable marriage)
Guardian was Emperor Tiberius→ 28 AD arranged marriage (Ag around 13)
Ahenobarbus was descendent of wealthy family and of MA (had married Octavia)
37 AD→ Gave birth to son Nero and became the Emperor’s sister (ascension of Gaius)
39 AD→ Ahenobarbus died
“It is interesting to note that they thought it best not to have children while Tiberius was still alive.” T. WEIDEMANN
Marriage 2: Sallustius Passienus Crispus
Wealthy, consular rank (but not as well connected as Ahenobarbus)
Marriage saved her from intrigues of Messalina
47 AD→ Crispus died (left her very wealthy)
“Agrippina, remembering the weakness of her mother’s position after the death of Germanicus, set out to find a husband.” GRIFFIN
Marriage 3: Claudius
According to sources (Ag very beautiful) Claudius a womaniser
Freemen competed to choose a wide for him, he needed companion
“Was in the habit of consulting him constantly…and in fact she was rather more familiar in her conduct towards him than became a niece.” CASSIUS DIO
Basis of her power and influence; patronage
Marriages (all well-connected) underlined significance of her family background, status and made her wealthy
Birth of child→ New status as a mother (Matronly virtue; important criteria of acceptance in society)
Even more significant→ Her child was possible heir to Julio- Claudian dynasty
Aware of importance of furthering prospects of her son→ vested political interest in dynasty beyond her own survival and personal advancement
Own family’s fortunes→ taught her that position and status wasn’t enough→ needed to surround herself with powerful, influential people to support her cause.
Learnt from ATE who had built strong network of friends/patrons to help support her and her children’s future
Ag used influence and her observance of human nature to cultivate,bend people to her will (husbands, senators,freedmen, Nero- for a while)
“She was no paragon of female virtue..she was prepared, if necessary, to wade through slaughter to a throne.” SALMON
Role during the reign of Gaius (Caligula), including exile
BEFORE EXILE
37 AD; Tiberius died→ Gaius (Caligula) now emperor
First acts: Bring 3 sisters into prominent position
- Made vestal virgins
- Included in annual vows for emperors safety and vows of allegiance
- Included in preamble to proposals submitted to Senate
- Issued on coin (never before sisters of emperor on coin)
Hints of incest (especially Drusilla) “Without a compatible wife, it might be expected that Caligula would have looked for affection from his three sisters.” BARRETT
39 AD; Ahenobarbus dead. Ag and Livillia convicted of committing adultery with Lepidus (Drusilla’s former husband). Forced to carry ashes and scatter→
Banished to Pontian Islands
41 AD; Gaius died and exile ended→ Uncle Claudius now emperor; sisters recalled to Rome
Role during the reign of Gaius (Caligula), including exile
AFTER EXILE
After exile→ married Crispus (saved from intrigues of Messalina)
Ascension of Claudius; turning point in Ag’s career;
Sharpened political skills and focused on promoting own position and Nero’s succession
Mess wielded power→ used position to dispose of suspected rivals; threats to children
Downfall of Mess→ Public marriage to Gaius Silius. Motives? Maybe feared Ag’s power and popularity of Nero (got more applause at games than Britannicus)
Silius saw opportunity to make himself master of Rome (senate hostile to Claudius) Promised Mess her position would remain intact, Britannicus would be emperor.
Narcissus→ told Claudius of plot against him→ Praetorian guard killed her
“Had gone so far as to commit bigamy…so Claudius executed her.” SUETONIUS
Ag took advantage of downfall; married Claudius. Incestuous; Claudius granted special dispensation
Role during the reign of Claudius
OVERVIEW
49 AD; Married and Ag pursued objectives; (wanted Nero to succeed as emperor) (Achieve major share of political power)
“Agrippina used her influence over Claudius not only to consolidate Nero’s claims, but also to enhance her own position.” BAUMAN
