The dynasty of the Julio-Claudians could be summarised as being commanded by domineering families who had an obsession with power and politics. Agrippina the younger, daughter of Agrippina the elder and Germanicus and future wife of the Emperor Claudius, as well as the mother of the following Emperor Nero was one such example. Breaking the boundaries of the stereotype of imperial women and becoming one of the most influential women in Roman history, she had lasting impacts on the imperial household with her manipulation of succession to secure the throne for Nero and the use of her noble blood to co rule with Emperor Claudius.
Initial evidence to support Agrippina’s influence on Roman society is presented in the early months of Nero’s reign.
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Her marriage to him in AD 42 provided her with financial and personal protection. Perowne is quoted describing her position allowing her to “play for the highest stakes of all: Claudius”. Her later marriage to Claudius in AD 49 was described by Tacitus as a use of her “illustrious birth” and her supposed “seductiveness” as it ensured the future succession of Nero. Through this marriage she gained an enormous degree of Influence in Rome as Tacitus mentions: “From this moment, the country was transformed. Complete obedience was accorded to a woman”. This further corroborates with coinage that was produced which had both Agrippina and Claudius on either side of the coin. Agrippina also gained large amounts of influence with the title of Augusta in AD 50. She also had a colony named after her and featured at the mock battle at the Fucine lake with Claudius. Bauman wrote that she “dominated the politics of her time”, and this is clearly evident in the earlier written records of Tacitus and Dio. Dio himself writing that “she gained complete control over Claudius” and persuaded him through her patronage with her freedmen. Scullard also writes about this period, stating that she had “prepared the way for her 16 year old …show more content…
Tacitus for example, given his context and his dislike of Roman woman, writes that her relationship with Lepidus, that eventually led to the Gaetulicus affair, was a “means to power”, meanwhile Ferrero argues that Agrippina “could hardly have acted otherwise”. He notes in his own words that the Augustan family was “reduced to a state of exhaustion and virtually destroyed by the fatal discord between her mother and Tiberius and the quarrels between her brothers.” Barret, when writing about Agrippina’s relationship with Claudius, claims that “it is apparent that the mood and atmosphere of Claudius’ reign improved… during it’s later… much of the impetus for this change should be attributed to the influence of
Claudius's last wife. She wanted him dead, so she entrusted the job to Locusta. Locusta
Similar to celebrities today, Clodia was able to network with powerful people because she was a formidable character as well. Clodia was associated with the dictator L. Cornelius Sulla, the great orator Hortensius, and the main conservative spokesman Cato the Younger (Skinner, 2010). Clodia’s esteemed position in society permitted her to marry her cousin. Clodia’s husband, who was named, Quintus Metellus Celer, was a Roman tribune, a brother-in-law of Pompey the Great, and a legate in Asia (Badian, 2014). Because of her husband’s involvement in Roman politics, Clodia was able to gain a widened array of political contacts. Clodia was also able to influence her husband’s political choices because of her forceful nature. Clodia was also afforded more economic freedoms once she was married as opposed to still being under her father’s control. Clodia, although it was looked down upon, used her wealth for her own aims instead of the considering the interests of her male relatives. When Metellus husband died in 59 BC under mysterious circumstances, Clodia became a widow with a vast amount of wealth (Kamil, 2014). Being a widow also gave Clodia more leverage to lead the type of life she saw fit, and Clodia never remarried after. Clodia assisted her brother Clodius in his political career. Clodia’s birth name was Claudia, but she changed it when her brother changed his
In contrast to the publicity spin of today’s tabloids, ‘losers attract notoriety,’ (Fear, 2008, p, 6) Roman society was no different with one’s reputation of paramount importance and continually defended. Antony and Cleopatra’s union was ammunition for Octavian and propaganda used against the couple in their pursuing battle of Actium. (Fear, 2008, p.7.)
When Claudius married Caligula’s sister, and his niece, Agrippina the younger, she had a son. Agrippina convinced Claudius to adopt her son as his own, and she succeeded. Upon adoption, his name changed to Nero. When Nero became older, she also attempted to convince Claudius to name Nero as his successor. She succeeded and Claudius favoured Nero as his heir.
Scullard, From the Gracchi to Nero, p.221 (as presented in Antiquity 2). Peter Roberts Excel HSC Ancient History, Copyright 2001, pages 316 – 324. http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/caesar-sugustus/ http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus.html http://www.roman-emperors.org/auggie.htm
In the early first century AD, the Roman Empire was subject to autocratic rule and the old Republic was long dead. Augustus had been ruling for forty years and most of that time he was loved and praised by the Senate and the people of Rome. Throughout his reign, Augustus had the one lingering problem of finding a successor to take over the role of Emperor. He had chosen 3 different heirs in his time of rule; however, they all passed before they had the chance to inherit Augustus’ esteemed power. His fourth choice, Tiberius, was the one to succeed Augustus. He was often referred to, by Augustus, as an outstanding general and the only one capable of defending Rome against her enemies. The statement, ‘Tiberius is condemned by many ancient historians (including Tacitus), and his reign is often portrayed as being detrimental to the welfare of the Roman Empire’ is invalid as he treated the senate fairly, created strong economics and security in the state and boosted the empire into an unprecedented state of prosperity. This hypothesis will be proven through this essay by analyzing factors such as Tiberius’ administration of the Empire, his relationship with the senate, his financial control, the effect of Sejanus over his rule and why were his last years as Emperor referred to as a ‘reign of terror’ by Tacitus.
She was the daughter of the orator Quintus Hortensius and lived during the final years of the Roman Republic. After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, civil war broke out, causing a significant budget problem for the new triumvirate. In response to their need for money, the government decided to impose a tax on 1,400 wealthy Roman women. Hortensia would not stand for this. She gave a speech in the forum condemning the triumvirs for instituting a tax on these women who neither had representation in their government nor did they have any part in beginning the war. Her words and actions not only convinced the triumvirate to reduce the number of women taxed to 400, but they also included men in their new
Octavia was a Roman girl who was born in 69 BCE Nola, Italy. Octavia is also known as Octavia the Minor because of her older half-sister; also known as one of the most prominent women in Roman history. Her father was Gaius Octavius and her mother was his second wife. Her younger brother also named Gaius Octavius is known as Emperor Augustus.
Tacitus tells us in the introduction to his Annales that his intent is to “relate a little about Augustus, Tiberius, et cetera” and to in fact do so “sine ira et studio” -- without bitterness or bias.1 Experience, however, tells us that this aim is rarely executed, and that we must be all the more suspicious when it is stated outright. Throughout the Annales, Tacitus rather gives the impression that his lack of bias is evidenced by his evenhanded application of bitterness to all his subjects. But is this really the case? While Tacitus tends to apply his sarcastic wit universally – to barbarian and Roman alike – this is not necessarily evidence of lack of bias. Taking the destruction of Mona and Boudicca's revolt (roughly 14.28-37) as a case study, it is evident that through epic allusion, deliberate diction, and careful choice of episodes related, Tacitus reveals his opinion that the Roman war machine first makes rebels by unjust governance, and then punishes them.
She attributes her exceptional education, captivating oratory skills and intellectual abilities to have merited both the hearts of the Roman leaders. Through the latter she elevated her Empire from the path of ruin and into world supremacy, using the influence and might of the Roman Empire to do so. After all as Cleopatra displayed to have understood- Why be the conquered when you are able to be the conqueror. Read page 129
Greek and Roman women lived in a world where strict gender roles were given; where each person was judged in terms of compliance with gender-specific standards of conduct. Generally, men were placed above women in terms of independence, control and overall freedom. Whereas men lived in the world at large, active in public life and free to come and go as they willed, women's lives were sheltered. Most women were assigned the role of a homemaker, where they were anticipated to be good wives and mothers, but not much of anything else. The roles of women are thoroughly discussed in readings such as The Aeneid, Iliad, Sappho poetry, and Semonides' essay.
Around 69 B.C, one of the most famous female rulers ever known was born, she was Cleopatra. She was the descendent of the Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy XII, and she would eventually became the queen of ancient Egypt herself. She was known for being extremely intelligent and very charming, and because of this many romans feared her and viewed her as a threat. When her father died the throne of Egypt was left to her and her brother, Ptolemy XIII, and rivalry formed between the two, making her even more determined to become the sole ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra had trained all her life to be the successor of Egypt and she hungered for power. Like her father, she tried to have peace with Rome and maybe even have power over them. She would gain her power by having Caesar one and only son, Caesarion, the loyalty of Marc Antony, a well-known general who was popular among the troops in Rome, and of course by using her intelligence and Egypt’s resources. Cleopatra was a successful ruler because she had a thirst for power.
...by his mother for dishonoring his father’s life by marrying Claudius less then a month after he died. He was also affected by other people that might suggest he wasn’t just affected by his parents.
Claudius seduced Gertrude easily because of his ‘power’. Claudius manipulated her and his traits are not of any quality. Gertrude and Ophelia are easily impressionable, and were easily used to others’ advantages, proving their presence invaluable.
Throughout history, the world has seen a copious amount of emperors, but Julius Caesar was a historic model to the society of Rome. According to McKay, Hill, Buckler, Crowston, Weisner- Hanks, and Perry, (2014), born in 100 B.C. to an honorable family, Caesar went to school and received an outstanding education, which he later advanced by studying in Greece with some of the famous Greek teachers we learn about today. Caesar’s first wife Cornelia was the daughter of the consul at the time, Lucius Cornelius Cinna. His original plans were to marry the daughter of a wealthy business class family, but considering he wanted to be the flamen he had to marry a patrician. Even though he fulfilled the requirements and married Cornelia, consul Cinna never