Achievements of Agrippina the Younger
ACHIEVEMENTS OF AGRIPPINA THE YOUNGER
Agrippina’s powerful family lineage allowed her to excel beyond the role of women in Roman society and become successful in the terms of wealth and power. Agrippina’s achievements include the marrying Claudius, successfully removing others, ascension of Nero, and having honors and powers given beyond other women of Rome. It is difficult to assess the extent of Agrippina’s achievements because of the gender bias that derives from the Ancient sources Dio Cassius, Suetonius and Tacitus and the re-assessment from modern sources such as Susan Wood and Anthony Barrett.
The first successful achievement for Agrippina was her marriage to the Emperor Claudius. In AD 39, Agrippina was exiled because she was accused of aligning with others in order to overthrow her brother, Gaius Caesar. However, in AD 41, Gaius was assassinated and Claudius became Princeps. Agrippina was recalled back to Rome and was considered to be a candidate for Claudius’ fourth marriage, after his marriage to Messalina had failed. Agrippina, had the advantage of a niece, and used it to make sexual advances upon Claudius. Her alliance with Marcus Antonius Pallas proved to be a significant factor in Agrippina’s marriage to Claudius. Pallas proposed her marriage to Claudius would strongly link both families (Julian and Claudian) and reminded Claudius that her son Nero was the grandson of Germanicus, a popular Roman commander. It was Pallas who convinced the Senate to revoke their rules on incestuous marriages, for one exception. In AD 49, Agrippina married Claudius. This gave her the tremendous power she needed in order to complete her ultimate ambition.
Throughout Agrippina’s career, she successfully removed others, who were deemed a threat or were no longer of any further use to her. Her first example of extermination was the poisoning of her second husband Gaius Sallutius Passienus Crispus. Agrippina knew of his wealthy inheritance and possessions. He was
Agrippina’s powerful family lineage allowed her to excel beyond the role of women in Roman society and become successful in the terms of wealth and power. Agrippina’s achievements include the marrying Claudius, successfully removing others, ascension of Nero, and having honors and powers given beyond other women of Rome. It is difficult to assess the extent of Agrippina’s achievements because of the gender bias that derives from the Ancient sources Dio Cassius, Suetonius and Tacitus and the re-assessment from modern sources such as Susan Wood and Anthony Barrett.
The first successful achievement for Agrippina was her marriage to the Emperor Claudius. In AD 39, Agrippina was exiled because she was accused of aligning with others in order to overthrow her brother, Gaius Caesar. However, in AD 41, Gaius was assassinated and Claudius became Princeps. Agrippina was recalled back to Rome and was considered to be a candidate for Claudius’ fourth marriage, after his marriage to Messalina had failed. Agrippina, had the advantage of a niece, and used it to make sexual advances upon Claudius. Her alliance with Marcus Antonius Pallas proved to be a significant factor in Agrippina’s marriage to Claudius. Pallas proposed her marriage to Claudius would strongly link both families (Julian and Claudian) and reminded Claudius that her son Nero was the grandson of Germanicus, a popular Roman commander. It was Pallas who convinced the Senate to revoke their rules on incestuous marriages, for one exception. In AD 49, Agrippina married Claudius. This gave her the tremendous power she needed in order to complete her ultimate ambition.
Throughout Agrippina’s career, she successfully removed others, who were deemed a threat or were no longer of any further use to her. Her first example of extermination was the poisoning of her second husband Gaius Sallutius Passienus Crispus. Agrippina knew of his wealthy inheritance and possessions. He was