Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa: Rome’s Pillar of Strength
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa is known mainly as Augustus’ right hand man, who helped him reach the top against every obstacle he faced and his most trusted friend. He was a man whose intelligence and wisdom were beyond his years, ranging from military prowess to technical ingenuity that had not been seen before. Many of Augustus’ greatest triumphs can be directly traced to his friend’s exceptional efforts and talent, and the unwavering faith that Augustus had in him. Agrippa was more than a Roman general; he was the foundation of Augustus’ success and the pillar of Roman strength that held strong and true.
Not much is known of Marcus Agrippa’s background, for many ancient historians did not write of him . What can be assumed is that he came from a plebeian family, which he neglects to use his family name since it was “undistinguished” . Many aspects can be estimated, such as his age –which is in direct correlation to Augustus (or Octavian) as they were schooled together, and his time of death – which was estimated to be about late March in 12 BCE (making him 50/51 by then). He was also known to be the second greatest influence on Rome after Augustus, though many historians consider him to be above the emperor at times . Cicero speaks very prominently about Agrippa, taking up most of the pages quoting his lengthy and eloquent speeches. He also speaks of Augustus’ inclination to consider his friend’s word before acting upon any military or political decision. Meyer Reinhold also gives a very detailed account of Agrippa’s life from his early years until unfortunate death in the book Marcus Agrippa: A Biography. When considering Agrippa, one often has to also look at his good friend Octavian – or Augustus as he was referred to in later years. Octavian is often shown to trust Agrippa’s word, whether it is a small choice of no value or a situation where one false move could lead to their demise. His friend’s instincts are often proven correct, and it is rarely seen that any of his choices are ill made. One such event was at the moment where Antony and Cleopatra make an attempt to flee, with Octavian urging to attack them while they did so. Agrippa advises him not to, and they formulate an ambush and come out successful in capturing Antony while Cleopatra manages to escape. It is also seen that Octavian is incredibly grateful for all Agrippa does for him, and he is often heard commending his friend , thanking him for his input on important matters along with rewarding him for all he does. When the Senate honours Octavian in the November of 36BCE, he is quick to bestow the honour upon his friend and reward him with some estates in Sicily . This firm loyalty that Agrippa has towards Octavian is not seen before, yet Agrippa understands that his own …show more content…
He was often described as an “unassuming, modest, generous, considerate, and upright” man, merging the old and new Roman virtues of gravitas and the austere . Around the age of twenty three, Marcus gained the political title of praetor urbanus, which he entered shortly after returning to Rome from the civil war. While heading off to Gaul, Octavian entrusted his good friend to rally the Roman people while he was gone, knowing his friend’s charisma would do just that. Agrippa holds public games during this time and onward, allowing the Roman people some entertainment along with the message that they have the people’s interest at heart. Many remember him for his exceptional games and public works, and he is often known as a very generous man . Some of his tallied works, funded from his own pockets, include: seven hundred cisterns, five hundred fountains topped by three hundred statues (of marble or bronze) and four hundred marble columns. He also opens one hundred and seventy public baths and makes olive oil and salt available to everyone . This generosity was not in vain, for the people understood that their own wellbeing was directly tied to both Agrippa and Augustus
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa is known mainly as Augustus’ right hand man, who helped him reach the top against every obstacle he faced and his most trusted friend. He was a man whose intelligence and wisdom were beyond his years, ranging from military prowess to technical ingenuity that had not been seen before. Many of Augustus’ greatest triumphs can be directly traced to his friend’s exceptional efforts and talent, and the unwavering faith that Augustus had in him. Agrippa was more than a Roman general; he was the foundation of Augustus’ success and the pillar of Roman strength that held strong and true.
Not much is known of Marcus Agrippa’s background, for many ancient historians did not write of him . What can be assumed is that he came from a plebeian family, which he neglects to use his family name since it was “undistinguished” . Many aspects can be estimated, such as his age –which is in direct correlation to Augustus (or Octavian) as they were schooled together, and his time of death – which was estimated to be about late March in 12 BCE (making him 50/51 by then). He was also known to be the second greatest influence on Rome after Augustus, though many historians consider him to be above the emperor at times . Cicero speaks very prominently about Agrippa, taking up most of the pages quoting his lengthy and eloquent speeches. He also speaks of Augustus’ inclination to consider his friend’s word before acting upon any military or political decision. Meyer Reinhold also gives a very detailed account of Agrippa’s life from his early years until unfortunate death in the book Marcus Agrippa: A Biography. When considering Agrippa, one often has to also look at his good friend Octavian – or Augustus as he was referred to in later years. Octavian is often shown to trust Agrippa’s word, whether it is a small choice of no value or a situation where one false move could lead to their demise. His friend’s instincts are often proven correct, and it is rarely seen that any of his choices are ill made. One such event was at the moment where Antony and Cleopatra make an attempt to flee, with Octavian urging to attack them while they did so. Agrippa advises him not to, and they formulate an ambush and come out successful in capturing Antony while Cleopatra manages to escape. It is also seen that Octavian is incredibly grateful for all Agrippa does for him, and he is often heard commending his friend , thanking him for his input on important matters along with rewarding him for all he does. When the Senate honours Octavian in the November of 36BCE, he is quick to bestow the honour upon his friend and reward him with some estates in Sicily . This firm loyalty that Agrippa has towards Octavian is not seen before, yet Agrippa understands that his own …show more content…
He was often described as an “unassuming, modest, generous, considerate, and upright” man, merging the old and new Roman virtues of gravitas and the austere . Around the age of twenty three, Marcus gained the political title of praetor urbanus, which he entered shortly after returning to Rome from the civil war. While heading off to Gaul, Octavian entrusted his good friend to rally the Roman people while he was gone, knowing his friend’s charisma would do just that. Agrippa holds public games during this time and onward, allowing the Roman people some entertainment along with the message that they have the people’s interest at heart. Many remember him for his exceptional games and public works, and he is often known as a very generous man . Some of his tallied works, funded from his own pockets, include: seven hundred cisterns, five hundred fountains topped by three hundred statues (of marble or bronze) and four hundred marble columns. He also opens one hundred and seventy public baths and makes olive oil and salt available to everyone . This generosity was not in vain, for the people understood that their own wellbeing was directly tied to both Agrippa and Augustus