Agrippina the Elder

Abstract

Vipsania Agrippina (Maior) (ca. 14 BCE-33 CE), daughter of M. Vipsanius Agrippa (RE 2) and Julia (RE 550), granddaughter of Augustus (RE 132), married Germanicus (RE 138) in 5 CE and produced nine children (Suet. Cal. 7), six of whom survived infancy: Nero Caesar (RE 146), Drusus Caesar (RE 137), Gaius "Caligula" (RE 133), Agrippina the Younger (Minor) (RE 556), Julia Drusilla (RE 567), and Julia Livilla (RE 575). Accompanying Germanicus to the Rhine (14-16) and the east (17-19), she helped end the mutiny of 14 CE, prevented the destruction of the Rhine bridge (15), received divine honors on Lesbos (17), and toured Egypt, thereby incurring Tiberius' displeasure (Tac. Ann. 1.40-44, 69; 2.53-4, 59-61). On Germanicus' death (19), Agrippina carried his ashes to Rome escorted by two cohorts of Praetorians and large crowds (Tac. Ann. 2.75; 3.1-6).