Sexual Manipulation and Political Alliances
Agrippina used her sexuality in many ways and was able to use powerful men as puppets for her personal gain and increase in power and control. Returning from exile, Agrippina had no money or possessions and had just been reunited with her estranged son. She first began making advances towards the future Emperor Galba, who was extremely wealthy and well-born, but he was devoted solely to his wife. Agrippina then turned her attention to the wealthy senator Gaius Sallustius Crispus, who divorced his current wife Domitia to marry her, as well as mentoring Nero. But Agrippina wasn’t satisfied. Crispus died in 47 AD, and she was rumoured to have poisoned him to gain his estate, as both she and Nero were mentioned generously in Crispus’ will, however there wasn't enough evidence to corroborate this and she was ignored. Agrippina’s flirtatious nature also allowed her to win over many influential men, creating multiple political alliances. Miriam Griffin commented on her rise to power “Agrippina had achieved this dominant position for her son and herself by a web of political alliances," (G.M Nero: The End of a Dynasty, 1985). Around this time, there was a scandal involving Emperor Claudius’ third wife Valeria Messalina. She had been caught in a plot to murder Claudius and put her lover, Gaius Silius on the throne. After she was apprehended, she committed suicide, leaving a doorway open for Agrippina to make her move. Claudius’ reputation had been damaged by the scandal and he badly needed a public relations triumph, so he consulted his chief secretary and bookkeeper Marcus Antonius Pallas. Agrippina had previously formed alliances with Pallas, as well as Claudius’ doctor Xenophon and Afranius Burrus, head of the Praetorian Guard. She now used these connections, along with her flirtatious efforts to convince Claudius that what he needed was to marry her. Claudius agreed and had a senatorial decree made to bypass the law against incestuous relationships, allowing himself to marry Agrippina in 49 AD. Whilst this incestuous marriage was initially frowned upon by the senate and the Roman public, Claudius convinced them she would help him rule. This demonstrates the immense power and allure Agrippina held, as Claudius was willing to overturn laws and make unpopular political decisions, just so he could marry her.
The orthodox view of both ancient and modern historians alike is that Agrippina married Claudius purely to secure the throne for Nero, and that she gained control of Claudius from the day she married him. Barbara Levick, a modern historian specialising in Roman history said “Neither ancient nor modern historians of Rome have doubted that Agrippina had her eye on securing the throne for Nero from the very day of the marriage—if not earlier.” (L.B Claudius, 1990). Dio Cassius, a noted ancient Roman historian of Greek origins stated “As soon as Agrippina had come to live in the palace she gained complete control over Claudius“ (Dio Cassius, Dio's Roman History, 1925). Dio Cassius also referred to the power she gained once in this position as empress “No one attempted in any way to check Agrippina; indeed she had more power than Claudius himself.” (Dio Cassius, Dio's Roman History, 1925). Stating that ‘no one attempted in any way to check Agrippina’ goes to show how she was ignored, and reflects how Roman women weren’t very powerful at that time. This also would have helped her to plot against Claudius, as nobody would have seen it coming. Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman senator and historian, who lived from 56 to 117 AD. Tacitus is considered to be one of the greatest Roman historians, and he said that Narcissus, another influential secretary of Claudius, tried to warn others about Agrippina's plans: "There is nothing she will not sacrifice to imperial ambition-neither decency, nor honour, nor chastity.” (Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome, 1971). In 50 AD, Nero was adopted by Claudius, allowing him among other things to become Emperor once Claudius died. Leading up to Claudius’ death, he and Agrippina had many arguments over Nero and Britannicus’ (Claudius’ son, who was younger than Nero) advancements, as Britannicus was going to become a man in 55 AD, meaning he would be the heir to Claudius rather than Nero. In 54 AD however, the frail 64 year old Claudius died. The orthodox belief is that he was poisoned by Agrippina, as the majority of both ancient and modern historians have agreed. This is largely due to the almost perfect timing of his death, as he had lived long enough to give Nero the formal honours and recognition he needed to become more popular, well-known and more qualified to rule, but had died just before Britannicus could receive the same honours and become a man. Britannicus died shortly afterwards, attending a royal dinner party. He too is assumed to have been poisoned by Agrippina, however along with Claudius’ death there is not much evidence to support this theory. This sequence of events secured Nero’s spot as Emperor and moved Agrippina into an even stronger position of power.