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contentiousness, which Josephus the historian made known, and was suspected of treason.
In 36, with borrowed funds, Agrippa returned to Rome and was rescued from prison by Gaius Caligula,
who gave him the throne of Philip, Agrippa's uncle, in 37, and then the throne of Herod Antipas as well.
Agrippa kept the Great Temple of Jerusalem safe from desecration by Caligula when he persuaded him that
it was not necessary to place a statue of himself within the walls. Claudius trusted Agrippa greatly, giving
him Judaea as well, but he soon came to regret the gift as Agrippa harbored ambitions of his own. He died
before he could make any of his political dreams a reality.
¤
AGRIPPA II, MARCUS JULIUS (Herod) (fl. mid-1st century A.D.) The son of AGRIPPA , who, like
his father, spent most of his youth in the Roman Imperial Household. Claudius granted Agrippa II the
kingdom of Chalcis in 50 and then the tetrarchy of Philip, with Abilene and Acene. Agrippa II clearly
placated the Jewish element in his territories, but the Jewish revolt of 66 put him in an awkward position.
He tried at first to stem the rebellion, but he was wise enough to see the end result and allied himself with
the Romans. Josephus reported in The Jewish War and in The Jewish Antiquities that Agrippa was on hand
when the Romans conquered Jerusalem. See also JUDAEA and PALESTINE.
¤ AGRIPPA, MARCUS VIPSANIUS (d. 12 B.C.) The friend, lieutenant and supporter of
AUGUSTUS, who was most responsible for the transformation of Octavian the triumvir into Augustus the
emperor.
Although of common birth (which prevented him from ever wearing the purple robes of an emperor),
Agrippa was Octavian's lifelong companion. Accompanying Octavian in 45 B.C. to Apollonia, where
Caesar's nephew learned the ways of soldiering, Agrippa was present in 44 B.C. when the news of Julius
Caesar's assassination arrived. Octavian inherited Caesar's wealth and much of his power, and Agrippa
emerged as his representative in all matters. He was even instrumental in raising an army to ensure that
Octavian would be part of the newly formed triumvirate, which emerged out of the political chaos after
Caesar's murder.
The wars, which were inevitable, allowed Agrippa's multifaceted abilities to shine. He fought against
Marc ANTONY'S brother, Lucius, in 40 B.C., and then helped eradicate the Republican forces at
Perusia. Octavian then sent him to Gaul, where he was the only successful agent of the triumvirate.
Agrippa defeated a revolt by the Aquitanii, created a Roman site at the Ubii (near Cologne) and made a
punitive raid over the Rhine. In 37 B.C., he returned to Rome in triumph and was made a consul. At that
point Agrippa gave up his general's rank in the army and became an admiral. From 37 to 31 B.C., he was