History has hundreds of examples of Kings, Princes, politicians, etc. who have trusted advisors, brothers, sons, etc. who turned against them and created civil wars, havoc, mass murder, etc. In my reading of history, I cannot think of an example of a loyal and dutiful helper to a ruler who matches Marcus Agrippa. A friend of a youthful Octavian (before his formal adoption by J. Caesar), Agrippa remained loyal to Augustus all of his life, providing excellent advice and strong administrative skills, being a successful General and Admiral (a rarity among Romans), as well as personally honest and generous. His building program not only in Rome but across the Empire provided the average man with free baths, libraries and theaters.
Augustus trusted Agrippa so much that in effect, Agrippa was a co-ruler with Augustus and he had the ability to act in the name of Augustus in civil and military matters from one end of the Empire to the other.
While achieving all of this, he withstood the barbs of the old aristocracy (his family was of the plebian class) who resented his ability to successfully handle every task presented to him by Augustus. And, at the same time, his sense of personal modesty was never dented even though he became one of the wealthiest men in the Empire as the results of awards given to him by Augustus.
Augustus lived about twenty three years longer than Augustus but was never able to replace Agrippa’s many military and administrative skills. Augustus formally adopted the children of Agrippa (while Agrippa was alive) as an indication of his favor and in the hopes that they would carry on the stability of the two men, but either through natural causes or foul, those dreams were not to be realized. The Pax Augustus set a tone of stability for decades but it would be many years before another Emperor of Augustus’s level would emerge and there would never be another Agrippa.
A week ago I reviewed a biography of Augustus by an excellent historian but he did not mention how dependent Augustus was on Agrippa. I shall have to ask the writer why, although I am about to begin his biography on Julius Caesar.
I recommend this book which will give you a better view of the early Empire.
Leave a Comment