Marcus Agrippa: Right-hand Man of Caesar Augustus (59 page)

Livy (T. Livius), 59 BCE–17 CE
– Regarded by many as ancient Rome’s greatest historian, Livy was known to Augustus and his family. Indeed he encouraged Augustus’ grand-nephew, who later became Emperor Claudius, to study history. Book 129 of
Ab Urbe Condita
covered the battles of Mylae and Naulochus during the War with Sex. Pompeius and singled out Agrippa for particular mention; 132 described the Illyrian War; and 133 discussed the Actian War. Book 138 gave an account of his last days and death. Beyond the cryptic summaries in the
Periochae
, the full texts are now entirely lost.

Manlius (M. Manlius or M. Manilius), First Century CE
– Roman poet and astronomer about whom little is known, wrote the
Astronomicon
(1.797–798) which alludes to the fact that Agrippa began his military career at a young age.

Nikolaos of Damaskos, c. 65 BCE-4CE
*
– Greek-speaking Roman historian and philosopher, Nikolaos was tutor to Kleopatra and became an advisor of King Herodes. He visited Rome in 12 and 8 and after Herodes died in 4 BCE. Of the many books he wrote parts of the
Life of Caesar
– that is of Caesar Augustus – (
Bίος Καῖσαρ
) survives. It is one of the most important extant sources for the early years of Agrippa, mentioning that he met the future Augustus while young (
BK
7.6), that friends of Augustus – possibly Agrippa among them – were late arriving for Iulius Caesar’s war in Hispania (10–11), that his brother Lucius fought on the side of Cato and the conspirators in the Libyan War (7) and
confirms that Agrippa was among the group of friends touring Campania to recruit men to the cause of Caesar’s heir (30). In his own
Autobiography
, which survives as fragments, he mentions Agrippa’s ire at hearing Iulia almost came to grief at Illium and the trip he took across Asia with Herodes is recorded (F134).

Orosius (Paulus
*
Orosius), c. 375–after 418 CE
– Historian of the Christian Church, priest and student of St. Augustine of Hippo, Orosius wrote the
History Against the Pagans
(
Historiarum Adversum Paganos
), a book written to prove the decadence of ancient Roman civilization. In it he mentions Agrippa’s engagement during the wars of Sex. Pompeius (6.18.25–29), his guerilla actions in the Actian War (6.19.6–7), one of the most detailed accounts of the Battle of Actium (6.19.8–10) and his war against the Bosporani (21.28).

Pliny the Elder (C. Plinius Secundus), 23–79 CE
– The polymath Pliny the Elder began his career as an active soldier in the Rhine army, seeing three tours of duty (45–51 CE), including one as a
praefectus equitum
– as a result of which he wrote a single-volume book on throwing the javelin while riding on horseback, which has been lost. Sadly, Pliny’s
Bella Germaniae
, a history of Rome’s
German Wars
in twenty volumes, has also not survived, and probably with it an account of Agrippa’s crossing of the Rhine River. Pliny is best known for his encyclopaedic
Natural History
(
Naturalis Historia
), which, among its many topics, describes the people and territories of the known world in the first century CE. Pliny discusses Agrippa’s strange birth, unhappy childhood and age at death (
Nat. Hist
. 7.8), the name of his brother and sister (6.139), a reference to his eye-witness account of Augustus’ sickness before the Battle at Philippi which intimates that he was also there (7.148), his taste for rustic simplicity and the speech he gave on the public ownership of art (35.26), his achievements and legacy, including the
Portus Iulius
(36.125), the award of the
corona navalis
(16.7–8), repairs to the aqueducts (36.121), the opening of hundreds of public bathhouses with free admission and improvements to the
Circus Maximus
(36.24), the decorative artworks displayed in the
Saepta Iulia
(16.201, 36.29), the spectacular
Diribitorium
(36.102), the decorations of the
Thermae Agrippae
(34.62, 36.189) and the Pantheon (36.38), his alleged banishment to the East (7.149), a critique of his
Orbis Terrarum
(3.16–17), the fact he wrote a memoir (7.148), his gout and attempts to cure himself of it (23.58) and his tortured response to rumours of Iulia’s infidelities (7.6).

Plutarch (Loukas Mestrios Plutarchos, L. Mestrius Plutarchus), c. 46– 120 CE
– The Greek speaking biographer, essayist and historian wrote a number of works, most famously
Οἱ Βίοι Παράλληλοι
(
Parallel Lives
), which compared the lives of famous Greek and Roman soldiers and statesmen. Plutarch did not write a book about Agrippa
per se
, but he mentions him in stories concerning M. Antonius, Brutus, Cassius, Cicero, Pompeius Magnus and Sex. Pompeius. He reports that Agrippa was put in charge of leading the high-profile prosecution against the ring leader, C. Cassius Longinus (Plutarch,
Brutus
27), his letters urging Caesar to return to Rome (
Antonius
73.3) and his marriage to Claudia Marcella (
Antonios
87.2).

Seneca the Younger (L. Annaeus Seneca), c. 4 BCE–65 CE
– The playwright, Stoic philosopher, statesman, tutor and later advisor to the Emperor Nero recorded the amusing story of a defence lawyer making fun of Agrippa’s missing middle name (
Controversiae
2.4.12–13), describes him in almost spiritual terms as a ‘great-souled man’ and also relates that Agrippa’s favourite saying was ‘Harmony makes small things grow; lack of harmony makes great things decay’ (
Epistulae
94.46, based on Sallust,
Bellum Iugurthinum
10.6).

Servius (Maurus Servius Honoratus), late fourth century CE
– Considered in his time as the most learned man in Italy, Servius was a grammarian and scholar who wrote commentaries on the poetic works of Vergil. In the sixteenth century Pierre Daniel published the work with additional material drawn from other antiquarian sources – now lost – as
In Vergilii Carmina Commentarii
. This commentary on the Aeneid contains a passage that Agrippa was appointed tribune (
Ad. Aen
. 8.682) and invented the collapsible tower for naval vessels prior to the Battle of Mylae. In his other work (
Ad Georg
. 2.162) he mentions that Agrippa wrote a memoir.

Strabo (Strabonos), 63/64 BCE–c. 24 CE
– The historian, geographer and philosopher Strabo is best known for his
Γεωγραφικά
(
Geography
), a seventeen-volume descriptive survey of the world known to the Romans. Begun some time around 20 BCE, Strabo gives us valuable snippets about the relocation of the Ubii nation across the Rhine (
Geog
. 4.3.4), Agrippa’s road network radiating from Lugdunum (4.6.11), the
Orbis Terrarum
(2.5.17) and his purchase of artworks in Asia, including the Fallen Lion of Lysippos, to decorate his public buildings. (13.1.18–19).

Suetonius (C. Suetonius Tranquillus), c. 69/75-after 130 CE –
Suetonius wrote the
De Vita Caesarum
(
Lives of the Caesars
), in which he collected biographical facts, rumours and tidbits about Iulius Caesar and the eleven men who followed him. He records the visit of Agrippa and Augustus to the astrologer in Apollonia (
Divus Augustus
94.11), his great-grandson’s contempt for his humble birth (
Caligula
23.1), his naming of
Portus Iulius
in honour of Caesar (
Divus Augustus
16.1), his marriage to Claudia Marcella (
Divus Augustus
63.1), the
aedes Agrippae
(
Divus Augustus
97.1), the tantrum Agrippa allegedly threw over Marcellus (
Divus Augustus
66.3), the birth of Iulia the Younger (
Divus Augustus
64), that Agrippina the Elder was his daughter (
Caligula
7) and Caligula’s strongly negative reaction to being called a relative of Agrippa (
Caligula
23).

Tacitus (P. or C. Cornelius Tacitus), 56–117 CE
– Tacitus was a senator who wrote several books during the reign of the Emperor Trajan. He followed in the tradition of the historians of the Republic – notably, Sallust (C. Sallustius Crispus, 86–35 BCE) and Livy – but presented his material in such a way as to stress how different life had become in Imperial times. He describes Agrippa as ‘of humble birth, a good soldier and his partner in victory’ (
Annales
1.3) and ‘associate in power’ (3.56.3). He records that when Agrippa requested time to rest and recuperate, Augustus granted it (14.53.3, 55.2–3).

Valerius Maximus, c. 20 BCE–50 CE
– Little is known about Valerius Maximus’ personal life. During the reign of Emperor Tiberius he wrote
Memorable Deeds and Sayings in Nine Books
(
Factorum et Dictorum Memorabilium Libri IX
), which is a collection of about a thousand stories chosen for the moral guidance they offered, each arranged under one of several themes. In the chapter on friendship he gave the example of Agrippa in relation to Augustus (4.7.7).

Velleius Paterculus (C. or M. Velleius Paterculus), c. 19 BCE–c. 31 CE
– Paterculus saw eight years of active service under Tiberius, serving first in Illyricum as a
praefectus equitum
during the Batonian War of 6–9 CE, and then in Germania as a
legatus legionis
. He provides a character profile of Agrippa and praises his virtues, especially his work ethic (2.79.1–2), confirms that Agrippa secured a conviction in the prosecution against C. Cassius Longinus (2.69.5), was successful in operating guerilla-style tactics in the run-up to the Battle of Actium (2.84.2), his command at the great battle (2.85.2), the battle itself (2.85.3–4) and compares Agrippa with Maecenas (2.88.2), his departure to Mytilene on account of alleged animosity towards Marcellus (2.93.2), his joining the
Fratres Arvales
(2.127.1), the popular view that Agrippa would succeed Augustus and his reason for going to the East (2.93.2), his victory over the Cantabri (2.90.1) and the revolt of the Pannonii in Illyricum (2.96.2–3).

Vergil (P. Vergilius Maro), 70–19 BCE
– The Augustan era poet is best known for his poem
Aeneid
, a national epic which has been interpreted as drawing strong associations between Rome’s legendary founder Aeneas and its saviour and renewer Augustus. He lauded the
Portus Iulius
(
Georgics
2.161–164), celebrated his
corona navalis
(
Aeneid
8.683–684), drew the allegory of Agrippa as Achates (
Aeneid
1.174–176, 1.188–192) and sang of his contribution at Actium (
Aeneid
8.675–684).

2. Coins

Coins were produced with Agrippa’s name and portrait during his lifetime, both at the official mint in Rome and at provincial city mints across the empire. They tell the story of his career and growing influence across the Roman world. The earliest coins were produced outside Italy in the western provinces of Gallia Narbonensis, Gallia Lugdunenis (Gallia Comata), Hispania Tarraconensis (Hispania Citerior) and Baetica (Hispania Ulterior), and in the East in Achaea and Bithynia et Pontus. After his death several coins were issued to commemorate his life by Augustus and his successors. For a full discussion of the numismatic evidence see Roddaz (1984) and Romeo (1998).

(a) Imperatorial Mints (before 27 BCE)
During the civil war period following the assassination of Iulius Caesar the triumvirs (Antonius, Caesar and Lepidus) produced silver coins (
denarii
) at military mints to pay their troops and to purchase supplies, which moved with the army. The coins declare Agrippa’s election as consul and his support of the divine Caesar’s heir.

• Gold
  aureus
  struck 39 BCE in Lugdunum
  *
  . Obverse: IMP DIVI IVLI F TER IIIVIR RPC, head of Caesar (Octavius) facing right wearing diadem with star in front. Reverse: M AGRIPPA COS DESIG on plain field. (Numismatic references: Crawford 534/1, Sydenham 1329, Cohen 33.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  (
  plate 14
  ) struck 39 BCE in Lugdunum
  *
  . Obverse: DIVVS IVLIVS DIVI F, wreathed head of Iulius Caesar right facing bare head of Caesar (Octavius) left. Reverse: M AGRIPPA COS DESIG on plain field. (Numismatic references: Crawford 534/2, Sydenham 1330 (R7), Cohen 5 (80 Fr.), Sear
  Imperators
  306.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 39 BCE in Lugdunum
  *
  . Obverse: IMP CAES DIVI F, head bearded Caesar (Octavius) facing right. Reverse: M AGRIPPA COS DESIG on plain field. (Numismatic references: Crawford 534/3, I307, Sydenham 1331, I545.)
  

(b) Imperial Mints (after 27 BCE)
After the First Constitutional Settlement Augustus continued the republican policy of contracting out the production of coins to moneyers (
tresviri monetales
). With the foundation of the imperial mint at Lugdunum in 15 BCE most gold (
aureii
) and silver coins were made there and only lower denomination copper or bronze (
asses
,
semis
,
dupondii
,
sestertii
) and brass (
sestertii
) pieces were minted at Rome in the Temple of Iuno Moneta.

(i) Augustus

• Gold
  aureus
  struck 13 BCE in Rome. Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right wearing
  corona civica
  . Reverse: M AGRIPPA PLATORINVS IIIVIR, head of Agrippa facing right wearing combined
  corona navalis
  and
  muralis
  . (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 110.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 13 BCE in Rome. Obverse: AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right with
  lituus
  . Reverse: C MARIVS C F TRO IIIVIR, togate figures of Augustus (laureate) and Agrippa (wearing combined
  corona navalis
  and
  muralis
  ) standing either side of a
  capsa
  . (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 103.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 13 BCE in Rome. Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right. Reverse: M AGRIPPA PLATORINVS IIIVIR, head of Agrippa facing right. (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 112–114, Cohen 3,
  RIC
  I 408.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  (
  plate 28
  ) struck 13 BCE in Rome. Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right. Reverse: C SVLPICIVS PLATORIN, bare headed and togate figures of Augustus and Agrippa, extending right hands, seated on a bench upon
  Rostra
  with ships’ beaks. (Numismatic references:
  BMCRE
  I 115, Cohen 529,
  RIC
  I 407 (R2),
  RSC
  529.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 12 BCE in Rome. Obverse: AVGVSTVS COS XI, head of Augustus facing right wearing
  corona civica
  . Reverse: M AGRIPPA COS TER COSSVS LENTVLVS, head of Agrippa facing right wearing combined
  corona navalis
  and
  muralis
  . (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 121,
  RIC
  I 414.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 12 BCE in Rome. Obverse: AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right. Reverse: COSSVS CN F LENTVLVS, equestrian statue of Agrippa facing right on a pedestal, right wearing crested helmet and holding a military trophy. (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 122.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 12 BCE in Rome. Obverse: AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right. Reverse: L LENTVLVS FLAMEN MARTIALIS, togate figure of Augustus wearing diadem standing beside a round shield inscribed C V held in the left hand, holding a star with the right hand above semi-naked figure of Agrippa holding small Victory in palm of the right hand and mace in the left. (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 124.)
  
• Silver
  denarius
  struck 12 BCE in Rome. Obverse: AVGVSTVS, head of Augustus facing right. Reverse: AVGVSTVS TRIB POT L CANINIVS GALLVS IIIVIR,
  subsellium
  with
  hasta
  . (Numismatic reference:
  BMCRE
  I 131.)