Agrippina Influence
Agrippina the Younger had four main factors that highly influenced her power before her marriage to Claudius. She was born into the Julio-Claudian bloodline making her an Imperial woman of a noble dynasty, she was as a result of her family background reasonably wealthy and educated, she had the backing of the Roman Army as her father Germanicus was the commander of the 5th legion of the army in Germany and finally her two marriages which provided her with wealth and a son to be heir of the throne.
The Julio-Claudian dynasty ran strong before and after the birth of Agrippina. She was born into power in 15 AD. She was a direct descendant of respected Augustus and was the daughter of the most popular couple in Rome, Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.
“Agrippina’s exceptionally illustrious birth is indisputable” (Tacitus, Annals. XII.6.p.254)
Her birth into the Julio-Claudian bloodline meant that Agrippina was born into wealth as her family was a noble dynasty in Rome and Germany. But most of her wealth grew with her two marriages. The combination of both her wealth connected through her father and her marriages gave Agrippina great social and political influence. The bloodline she was born into also resulted in her becoming highly educated in Rome’s affairs, military and politics. Unlike many other Imperial women she showed signs of diplomacy and caution in political matters.
Her father, Germanicus had the favouring of Augustus and was a highly respected Roman soldier “Germanicus is everywhere described as having been of outstanding physical and moral excellence” (Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Gaius, 3). He had the skill of winning over people’s respect and this was passed on to Agrippina. Having a father with such high ranks his legion of the Roman army acted as a huge power for Agrippina even at the young age of four as it offered protection and after her fathers death in 19AD, Agrippina had the loyalties of the army behind her.
In 28 AD Agrippina was married
The Julio-Claudian dynasty ran strong before and after the birth of Agrippina. She was born into power in 15 AD. She was a direct descendant of respected Augustus and was the daughter of the most popular couple in Rome, Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.
“Agrippina’s exceptionally illustrious birth is indisputable” (Tacitus, Annals. XII.6.p.254)
Her birth into the Julio-Claudian bloodline meant that Agrippina was born into wealth as her family was a noble dynasty in Rome and Germany. But most of her wealth grew with her two marriages. The combination of both her wealth connected through her father and her marriages gave Agrippina great social and political influence. The bloodline she was born into also resulted in her becoming highly educated in Rome’s affairs, military and politics. Unlike many other Imperial women she showed signs of diplomacy and caution in political matters.
Her father, Germanicus had the favouring of Augustus and was a highly respected Roman soldier “Germanicus is everywhere described as having been of outstanding physical and moral excellence” (Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Gaius, 3). He had the skill of winning over people’s respect and this was passed on to Agrippina. Having a father with such high ranks his legion of the Roman army acted as a huge power for Agrippina even at the young age of four as it offered protection and after her fathers death in 19AD, Agrippina had the loyalties of the army behind her.
In 28 AD Agrippina was married