juliacaesaris:↳ Women of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BCE - CE 68)Julia Agrippina (6 November AD 1
juliacaesaris:↳ Women of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BCE - CE 68)Julia Agrippina (6 November AD 15 – 23 March AD 59), also referred to as Agrippina the Younger, was a Roman empress and one of the most prominent women in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Her father was general Germanicus, one-time heir apparent to the Roman Empire under Tiberius; and her mother was Agrippina the Elder, a granddaughter of the first Roman emperor Augustus. She was the younger sister of emperor Caligula, the niece and fourth wife of emperor Claudius who succeeded Caligula, and the mother of emperor Nero, who succeeded Claudius.Both ancient and modern sources describe Agrippina’s personality as ruthless, ambitious, violent and domineering. Physically she was a beautiful and reputable woman; according to Pliny the Elder, she had a double canine in her upper right jaw, a sign of good fortune. Many ancient historians accuse Agrippina of poisoning her husband Claudius, though accounts vary.She was a key figure in succession intrigues. She functioned as a behind-the-scenes advisor in affairs of state through powerful political ties — being the sister of Caligula, wife of Claudius, and for some time, allied with statesmen Seneca the Younger and Sextus Afranius Burrus. She maneuvered Nero, her son by an earlier marriage, into the line of succession; Claudius became aware of her plotting, but died in 54, perhaps poisoned by Agrippina, and Nero took the throne. Agrippina exerted a commanding influence in the early years of his reign, but in 59 he put an end to her skillful machinations and her political influence by having her murdered. -- source link
#history#ancient rome