Agrippina during Claudius' reign
AGRIPPINA’S ROLE DURING THE REIGN OF CLAUDIUS AND HOW IT ALLOWED HER TO INCREASE HER POWER
Agrippina’s role during the reign Claudius began when she was recalled from exile in 39AD, after the death of Gaius. After the fall of Claudius’ previous wife Messalina, she used her powerful family bloodline as an incentive for marriage. During her years of marriage she was greatly influential, received many privileges and secure the succession by convincing Claudius to adopt Nero.
The death of Messalina opened a new window of opportunity for Agrippina to achieve her life’s ambition of watching her son, Nero, ascend the throne. To do this, she had Lucius Vitellius, convince the senate to change their laws on incest, as Claudius was her uncle. According to the ancient sources, Tacitus and Suetonius, she used seductive methods to gain Claudius’ affections. Claudius was also intent on the marriage, because unlike his predecessors, Gaius and Tiberius, he had not been adopted into the Julian family. Marrying Agrippina would unite the families.
Agrippina was a significant influence on her husband. This was devious through her possession of power and dominance. Cassius Dio describes her as “she had more power than Claudius himself…” and “she possessed all power, since she dominated Claudius”. According to the ancient sources, Agrippina’s role during the reign of Claudius was as a dominating co-ruler, who was different to the accepted role of women. An example of this is when she used her power to interfere with political decisions, and removed the leaders of the Praetorian Guard who showed sympathies towards Britannicus, Claudius’ son. When Caratacus, leader of the Britons, was captured and faced Roman justice, Agrippina sat closely by. Tacitus accounts for this event, describing the British king paid “the same homage and gratitude as they would have given the emperor”. This indicates her close association with the ruling the empire. Although the ancient sources attempt to
Agrippina’s role during the reign Claudius began when she was recalled from exile in 39AD, after the death of Gaius. After the fall of Claudius’ previous wife Messalina, she used her powerful family bloodline as an incentive for marriage. During her years of marriage she was greatly influential, received many privileges and secure the succession by convincing Claudius to adopt Nero.
The death of Messalina opened a new window of opportunity for Agrippina to achieve her life’s ambition of watching her son, Nero, ascend the throne. To do this, she had Lucius Vitellius, convince the senate to change their laws on incest, as Claudius was her uncle. According to the ancient sources, Tacitus and Suetonius, she used seductive methods to gain Claudius’ affections. Claudius was also intent on the marriage, because unlike his predecessors, Gaius and Tiberius, he had not been adopted into the Julian family. Marrying Agrippina would unite the families.
Agrippina was a significant influence on her husband. This was devious through her possession of power and dominance. Cassius Dio describes her as “she had more power than Claudius himself…” and “she possessed all power, since she dominated Claudius”. According to the ancient sources, Agrippina’s role during the reign of Claudius was as a dominating co-ruler, who was different to the accepted role of women. An example of this is when she used her power to interfere with political decisions, and removed the leaders of the Praetorian Guard who showed sympathies towards Britannicus, Claudius’ son. When Caratacus, leader of the Britons, was captured and faced Roman justice, Agrippina sat closely by. Tacitus accounts for this event, describing the British king paid “the same homage and gratitude as they would have given the emperor”. This indicates her close association with the ruling the empire. Although the ancient sources attempt to