Agrippa – 12BC

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Agrippa

Died 12 BC

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was of common birth. He was Octavian’s lifelong friend, lieutenant, companion, and supporter. Agrippa accompanied Octavian to Apoflonia in 45 BC, where the two friends learned the art of soldiering. Agrippa was even at Octavian’s side in 44 BC when the news of Julius Caesar’s assassination arrived. When Octavian inherited all of Caesar’s wealth and political power, it was Agrippa who emerged as his representative in all matters of finance and politics. It was also Agrippa who raised an army that ensured Octavian was a member of the newly formed triumvirate, which emerged in the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination. It was Agrippa who stood behind Octavian and was largely responsible for the transformation of Octavian into Augustus the Emperor. But it would be Agrippa’s common birth status that would ultimately prevent him from ever truly being considered a potential heir to the newly created throne of Augustus.

Agrippa’s abilities were revealed to Octavian during the Civil Wars. He fought against Marc Antony‘s brother, Lucius, in 40 BC and helped destroy the remaining Republican forces in Persia. Agrippa was then sent to Gaul, where he was the only successful agent of the triumvirate, defeating a revolt by the Aquitanii and establishing a Roman site at the Ubii (near Cologne). Agrippa even made a punitive raid over the Rhine against the Germanic tribes.

In 37 BC, Agrippa returned to Rome in full triumph and was given the consulship as his reward. At that point in Agrippa’s career, he put down his general’s rank in the army and became an admiral. Between 37 and 31 BC, Agrippa proved to be a formidable admiral as well, creating a powerful fleet and setting sail for war against the pirate Sextus Pompey. Sextus himself had quite a reputation as a master of the high seas. Numerous attempts were made to defeat him, but only Agrippa succeeded. At Mylae and Naulochus, Sextus was soundly defeated by Agrippa.

At the Battle of ACTIUM, Agrippa invented the HARPAX, a formidable weapon that won the battle. Agrippa commanded the successful left-wing that ensured victory for Octavian over Marc Antony and Cleopatra. This final battle at Actium left Octavian as the ruler of the Roman world and began a new age era for the Roman government.

In the new administration, Octavian was given the title of Augustus, and Agrippa was never far behind. It was Agrippa who was quite instrumental in conducting the census of 29 – 28 BC and the subsequent reorganization of the Roman institutions, including the reduction of the Senate, that proved critical to the formation of an imperial regime.

Agrippa was given the power to administer the Eastern regions of the Roman Empire. His eastern appointment, however, sparked a feud with Claudius Marcellus, Augustus’ nephew, who at the time was being groomed as the heir to Augustus. Agrippa was then given a mission away from Rome to the Black Sea area, Jerusalem, and Pannonia. But clearly, Agrippa, despite his loyalty to Augustus, was not quite acceptable for the post as heir to the newly formed throne.

Upon Agrippa’s return to Rome, he became quite involved once again in civic affairs. This time, he focused on improvements in public works. He built the famous Pantheon, which is the only Roman building to survive largely intact. He also constructed two aqueducts, built baths, and cleaned the Roman water supply system. Agrippa also supervised the building of roads in Lugdunum (Lyons), founded colonies at Berytus and Baalbek, and planned several other Roman towns. Agrippa also wrote and drafted a modern map of the Empire.

Throughout the course of his life, Agrippa took three wives. His first wife was the daughter of Pomponius Atticus named Caecilia, with whom he had a daughter, Vipsania, who became the first wife of Emperor Tiberius. His second wife was the niece of Augustus Marcella, who was very beautiful and considerably wealthy. Finally, in 21 BC, Agrippa was given Augustus’ daughter Julia. Following the death of Marcellus, Augustus was desperate for an heir.

It was at this time that he chose to give his daughter to Agrippa, hoping that an heir would be born. Julia did produce three sons, Gaius, Lucius, and Agrippa Postumous, as well as a daughter named Agrippina. However, it would be through his daughter Agrippina that his descendants would ultimately rise to the throne in his grandson Caligula, followed by his great-grandson Nero.

Agrippa died in 12 BC a few months before the birth of his third son Agrippa Postumus. Indeed, Agrippa was not forgotten. He was long remembered and honored by the Roman military, the Roman people, and Augustus.

Haley’s Comet appeared around 12 BC and was recorded in the Book of Han by Chinese astronomers of the Han Dynasty. They tracked it from August through October during 12 BC. According to the Roman historian Cassius Dio, a comet appeared almost suspended over Rome for several days at the time of the death of Agrippa, Augustus’ close friend. Augustus issued a coin depicting Agrippa with a comet above his head, recording that event.