Agrippina Influence - 1557 Words

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†¦show more content†¦Tacitus as a main example writes about Agrippina the Younger in his â€Å"Annals† in such a way that it portrays to us a powerfully negative image of a power thirsty mother figure. Tacitus himself was a Roman historian and senator who disliked the Julio-Claudian dynasty, mostly its women because of the individuality and power they held. Tacitus holds Agrippina the younger responsible for the falling of the dynasty due to Nero’s character. He believes her influence was a negative one, she was only after power for herself and went about getting it by exploiting her son and entering into false marriages. â€Å"In public, Agrippina was austere and often arrogant. Her private life was chaste-unless power was to be gained. Her passion to acquire money was unbounded. She wanted it as a stepping stone to supremacy† (Tacitus, 7.5-7, Annals) It must be taken into account the criticism towards Agrippina the Younger is most possibly due to his own morals and opinions. In that time of Roman history women did not have many rights under law and were viewed as inferior so Tacitus may be sexist when writing these accounts of Agrippina. She was a powerful woman who posed threats to many people. Tacitus also was born in AD 55 meaning that he was only an infant when Agrippina the younger died, these accounts are not eye witness they are recreated and therefore are not completely reliable. Modern historians however seem more understanding of Agrippina’s situation and lookShow MoreRelatedEvaluate the Significance of Agrippinas Marriages in Her Rise to Prominence.1134 Words   |  5 PagesAgrippina the Younger’s three marriages were significant in her rise to prominence as they all served her political advancement; protection from enemies, fortune and eventually, power in politics. Her first marriage was to Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a man seventeen years her senior, described as a â€Å"wholly despicable character† (Suetonius). Her second marriage was to Gaius Sallustius Passienus Crispus, cut short by his death, but gaining her immense fortune. Her third and final marriage was to herRead MoreJulia Agrippin An Impeccable Pedigree1444 Words   |  6 PagesJulia Agrippina, more commonly known as Agrippina the Younger, had an impeccable pedigree, along with great ambition that helped her dominate the political world of her time. She was born into a Julio-Claudian family background that shaped and influenced the woman Agrippina the Younger became. Throughout her life her actions and ambitions were heavily critiqued as they went against the social norms and expected role of women of her time. Motivation: Agrippina the Younger found inspiration and motivationRead MoreAgrippina the Younger Essay3935 Words   |  16 PagesPersonality Agrippina The Younger Historical Context Roman Social and political structures Imperial Family Emperor From the time of Augustus, exercised total control over * Political * Military * Economic * Religious affairs Family Members of the Juio-Claudian family enjoyed considerable power and influence Upper Classes Consular Came from noble families – senators who had achieved office of consul and were respected because of their experience and authorityRead MoreJames Romm s Dying Every Day : Seneca At The Court Of Nero1381 Words   |  6 Pagesinto a single coherent story of Seneca’s time as one of Nero’s subjects and teachers. It would be impossible to talk about Seneca without also explaining the life of the emperor Nero. Seneca was brought out of exile back to Rome by Nero’s mother Agrippina specifically to tutor her son Nero. After a complicated series of incestual marriages, assassinations, and false accusations intended to manipulate the Senate, Nero ascends to the throne at the young age of 17. During his reign, he has his brotherRead MoreThe Roman Republic1412 Words   |  6 PagesLindi Ingram Professor Salzman February 26, 2016 As a descendent of the deified Emperor Augustus, Agrippina was born into a powerful and respected family. She exploited this power, obtaining a level of influence over her husband and son that was only available to ambitious, imperial men. Her use of manipulation and violence has led ancient writers, such as Tacitus, to describe her political career as inappropriate and excessive. But I will argue against these views. On the contrary, I will showRead MoreThe Role Of Women During The Roman Empire1299 Words   |  6 Pagesgood example of this is the life of Agrippina the Younger, mother of Nero. She was previously married to the emperor of Rome, Claudius. This is similar to the situation of Boudicea, but the difference lies when the powerful husband perishes. We know that in Boudicea’s case, she’s allowed by the people to take power, but Agrippina was not so lucky. The leadership role had passed from her husband, right over her, and down to her son Nero. Due to this , Agrippina had to look to other ways of gainingRead MoreAgrippina Strengths And Weaknesses996 Words   |  4 Pagesdown by the very traits that had enabled her to achieve positions of power. Agrippina was able to become one of the most significant women of the Ancient Roman World, but at the same time she was considered manipulative, and was despised by many, including eventually her son - the Emperor Nero, who had her killed in the year 59 CE. Despite holding no official political status, and being limited by her gender, Agrippina reached unprecedented heights and helped stabilise the Claudius Regime, demonstratingRead MoreTacitus s Influence On The Roman Empire2166 Words   |  9 PagesTacitus talks about the influence of Agrippina the younger as a sign of weakness of the principate representing Claudius and Nero as her pawn. Her position of power as a female to this day is unmatched; known as the granddaughter, daughter, sister, wife, and mother of men. ( Tacitus) Agrippina , an Imperial woman of the Julio-Claudian bloodline a female Caesar lived through all five of the Julio-Claudian emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. Agrippina the younger roles in theRead MoreSummary : Claudius Drusus Germanicus 1716 Words   |  7 PagesLizzy Davis Shuler September 29, 2015 Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus AD 15 - AD 68 Nero was born on December 15, 37 ADto Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina and was named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. His father came from a well known patrician family (with a relative who had been consul in 192 BC) and his mother was the youngest daughter of Germanicus. He was taught from a young age by the Seneca and studied the typical Greek, philosophy and rhetoric of that age (Morgan 13). Clearly bornRead MoreAgrippina’s Relationship with Other Members of the Imperial Court2158 Words   |  9 PagesAncient Assessment – Agrippina – by Sophie Mulley Describe Agrippina’s relationship with other members of the imperial court. (10 MARKS) â€Å"Agrippina was a formidable adversary. She had political allies at all levels, acquired during Claudius’ reign, and she knew how to exploit her Augustan lineage and descent from Germanicus to the full.† – Griffin Agrippina the younger is recognized as one of the most ambitious women in history who encompasses a great desire for power, wealth and supremacy