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After crushing rebellions in Gaul, Agrippa administered the East with the powers given to him by
Augustus, which by 13 B.C. included those of censoria potestas (see CENSOR). Agrippa's eastern tenure,
however, prompted a feud with Claudius MARCELLUS, Augustus' nephew, who was being advanced as
the emperor's heir. A mission away from Rome to the Black Sea area, Jerusalem and pannonia eased the
situation.
When Agrippa returned to Rome, he became involved in civic improvements. He built the Pantheon,
constructed two aqueducts, built baths and cleaned the Roman water supply system. He also supervised
the building of roads in Lugdunum (Lyon), founded colonies at Berytus and Baalbek and planned other
towns.
Agrippa had three wives: the daughter of Pomponius Atticus, Caecilia; the beautiful and considerably
wealthy Marcella, Augustus' niece; and finally, in 21 B.C., Julia, Augustus' daughter, who bore him three
sons, Gaius, Lucius and Agrippa, and a daughter, AGRIPPINA.
Agrippa also wrote and drafted a modern map of the Empire. He died in 12 B.C., still faithful to his
friend Augustus, but having outlived his usefulness to an imperial family that now sought stability. He
was long honored by the Roman military as the inventor of the HARP AX, the formidable weapon that
Octavian used at the battle of Actium.
¤ AGRIPPA POSTUMUS, MARCUS VIPSANIUS (12 B.C.-14 A.D.) The son of AGRIPPA and
JULIA (daughter of Augustus), and the youngest of three grandsons of AUGUSTUS. Postumus was born
after his father's death and grew up in the imperial household. Tacitus considered him "uncultured, with
only brute strength to recommend him," and he fell afoul of Empress LIVIA, who had him banished to
the island of Planasia (near Elba). In 14 A.D., when his only protector, Augustus, died and Tiberius
became emperor, Agrippa was killed. There is some question as to who issued the execution order.
Tacitus reported that Tiberius claimed the instructions had been left by Augustus, to be carried out at his
death. The historian wrote that Tiberius and Livia were most responsible, Tiberius out of fear and Livia
out of spite.
¤ AGRIPPINA (Vipsania Agrippina) (d. 20 A.D.) A daughter of Marcus AGRIPPA and for many years
the wife of TIBERIUS, desperately loved by him, according to the historian Suetonius. She bore him
DRUSUS (2) the Younger and was carrying another child in 12 B.C., when Tiberius was compelled by