Parallel lives: Artemisia and Agrippina Flora Edward Upper Sixth
Agrippina the Younger: Women in Rome have never been allowed any position of Authority, so we’ve had to adapt, outsmart the men that are so threatened by us. History records me as the wife and mother of men- doing little to detail me as anything more than that. They express outrage at my lack of adherence to societies norms for women- especially women in such a position as mine. But why conform to such rules when it makes life so dull? Why should I, as Great granddaughter of Augustus, adopted granddaughter of Emperor Tiberius and sister to Caligula (however disliked) be denied the same titles and honours as my male counterparts? Most remember me either as the wife of bumbling Claudius or mother of that Nero, neither of which are crowing achievements, some may also note my exile under the rule of my mad brother. When recorded by historians it is merely to accompany some scandalous rumour or alongside a set of adjectives describing this man or that, never as a person and political actor in my own right. Yet notice how each of these socalled brilliant emperors of Rome came up against hatred, and arguably descended into tyranny? Would not a greater presence of women within the political sphere ensure a more level-headed, less testosterone fuelled decision making process? That aside, it would at least make the senate more representative of the people it claims to serve in the interest of.
not one but 3 plots of murder- 2 of which they suggest succeeded. Likewise, the crime of ambition falls upon my shoulders, yet the men in my life had the same end goal yet got hailed hero’s and victors of our empire. With regard to my involvement in a plot to remove dear little boots, well, let’s just say someone had to do something. Let me also remind you I was not the only one involved; It was dubbed the Plot of Three Daggers for a reason. Both my sister Livilla Drusilla’s widowed husband Lepidus had an equal hand in attempting to remove our brother. Gaius should never have been entrusted with power over Rome and its people, squandering our resources and funds, as well as allowing Terror and Fear to cast their dreadful shadows over the city.
people and society that the elevation of the position of a handful of women. Likewise, his largesse and mass spending’s left Rome in a precarious position, resulting in the need for a levelheaded leader to take charge, thus Claudius took the title of princeps. Double standards ran strife through the streets, lurking around every corner to catch women in acts thought inappropriate for our sex. Roman law would suggest that, upon the untimely death of my second husband Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus - whom I had no hand in killing- that I was to become the property of my Son, Nero. As one who is fully capable of handling herself, it seems as dishonour to hand the control of my life to one who I brought into the world. Thus, I deemed it appropriate for me to take power into my own hand.
Would not a greater presence of women within the political sphere ensure a more level-headed, less testosterone fuelled decision making process?
I could easily continue with my diatribe of the flaws in the society and political systems of Rome; however, I write to record history as I remember it, not as high minded, uninformed as that noted down by one Suetonius, or Tacitus. Thus, I intent to record history as I remember it, free from the assumptions and accusations so common in other works.
Caligula’s reign did bring some benefits to both me and my sisters, however. Upon him becoming emperor the 3 of us became royals, the pinnacle of the societal hierarchy. He also had the vows of those swearing oaths of loyalty read: I will not value my life or that of my children less highly than I do the safety of the Emperor and his sisters. Likewise, we were given the rights of the Vestal Virgins, gaining the ability to travel by carpentum and to attend public games, something few other women were capable of. Our dear brother also had coins commissioned in our images, making us the first women still alive to be formally recognised on coinage. Such honours bestowed upon us allowed us to rise to a position of political prominence not previously achieved by women in Roman society.
In the history of the Julio-Claudians, you are unlikely to find a woman regarded in such a scandalous light as I. My supposed wrongdoings and misdemeanours are recorded- some say to my luck- by the likes of Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio; all men. Such men have made me complicit in
Despite the cruelty exhibited by Caligula, one of the only saving grace in all this is that Caligula is remembered no more fondly than I am myself, disgraced for his decisions such as that to make himself a god and appoint his horse as a priest. That to me is a far greater insult to the Roman 56
I used what influence I had following my banishment under Caligula to work my way into the royal courts becoming mistress to eminent men until I got close to Claudius. Love never existed between us- he was my uncle after all- though I had his ear and his trust, two deadly tools in the art of political manipulation. Claudius lacks the reputations of those who preceded him. He was not mad or tyrannical, nor did he have a short temper or a thirst for blood. He is however remembered for his close administration of Rome, bringing the empire and city back from the brink of collapse left behind by Caligula. I was the one pulling the strings. It was my idea to complete the aqueducts abandoned by Caligula. I too was the mind behind the Invasion of Britain as well as the annexation of Thrace. My involvement in such affairs did not go unnoticed with Tacitus siting how I “Put it forth that [I] was [myself] a partner in the empire
