Agrippina the Younger
Agrippina the Younger Agrippina the Younger, the wife of Claudius and mother of Nero, was one of the most famous women in Roman history and one of the greatest influences on Nero's reign. She was an intelligent woman that was willing to do anything to help her son, Nero, inherit the throne. However, Nero thought that she was too powerful during his reign that he was the one to plan her death in 59 CE. Agrippina was born in Ara Ubiorum, Rome on November 6, 15 CE. Her parents, Agrippina the Elder and Germanicus Julius Caesar, were both grandchildren of Augustus. Agrippina had many other siblings. When she was thirteen, the emperor Tiberius arranged her marriage to Gnaeus Germanicus Ahenobarbus, which occurred in 28. The following year, her mother and her oldest brother were arrested and exiled for plotting against Tiberius. Afterwards, both her mother and brother passed away. In 37, Agrippina gave birth to Lucius Domitius, who was also known as Nero. Then, Gaius Caligula, her brother, became the emperor. He made Agrippina along with two other sisters honorary Vestal Virgins. He raised their status by adding their names to the annual oaths of allegiance to the emperor. Caligula accused Agrippina and his other sister Livilla of having affairs with M. Aemilius Lepidus, whom he chose as his interim successor. Also, in 39, Agrippina joined a plot to assassinate Caligula. Therefore, Agrippina and Livilla were exiled to the Pontian Islands, off the coast of Southern Italy. While she was in exile, Agrippina' husband died in 40 CE. In 41, Agrippina's uncle, Claudius, became the emperor. Therefore, he brought her and her sister back from exile. Agrippina got married to Claudius in 49. Her goal was to make sure that Nero inherits the throne. Thus, she convinced Claudius to adopt Nero in 50 AD. Agrippina eliminated all the potential enemies that will try to prevent Nero's ascension to the throne. During the reign of Claudius, she received the title "Augusta", becoming
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