Agrippina: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Early Empire [Paperback]

Anthony A. Barrett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 1999

Agrippina the Younger attained a level of power in first-century Rome unprecedented for a woman. According to ancient sources, she achieved her success by plotting against her brother, the emperor Caligula, murdering her husband, the emperor Claudius, and controlling her son, the emperor Nero, by sleeping with him. Modern scholars tend to accept this verdict. But in his dynamic biography-the first on Agrippina in English-Anthony Barrett paints a startling new picture of this influential woman. Drawing on the latest archaeological, numismatic, and historical evidence, Barrett argues that Agrippina has been misjudged. Although she was ambitious, says Barrett, she made her way through ability and determination rather than by sexual allure, and her political contributions to her time seem to have been positive. After Agrippina's marriage to Claudius there was a marked decline in the number of judicial executions and there was close cooperation between the Senate and the emperor; the settlement of Cologne, founded under her aegis, was a model of social harmony; and the first five years of Nero's reign, while she was still alive, were the most enlightened of his rule. According to Barrett, Agrippina's one real failing was her relationship with her son, the monster of her own making who had her murdered in horrific and violent circumstances. Agrippina's impact was so lasting, however, that for some 150 years after her death no woman in the imperial family dared assume an assertive political role.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Classics scholar Barrett (Caligula, S. & S., 1991) has applied modern historiography to the subject of one of the most famous, rather, infamous women of the ancient world?the daughter of Germanicus, sister of Caligula, wife of Claudius, and mother of Nero, who eventually killed her. He does not exonerate Agrippina the Younger (15-59 A.D.) so much as give plausible explanations for her behavior and put her actions in a proper perspective. His chapters are cleverly, insightfully arranged around her relationships; but despite potential repetition with this format, he avoids leaving such familial impressions with the reader. Barrett works from the premise that in a monarchical patriarchy the only venues to power for the ambitious woman were extralegal. Agrippina's story is a narrative of the first century of the empire, from the adoption of Octavius to the varying accounts of her sensational death. This is a wonderful book, with copious notes and appendixes. Well recommended for academic libraries with classics and women's studies collections.?Clay G. Williams, Ferris State Univ., Big Rapids, Mich.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

One of history's most notorious monsters is rehabilitated as a politically successful woman whose power and reputation in first-century Rome fell victim to Roman sexism. Barrett (Classics/Univ. of British Columbia; Caligula, 1990) begins with a brief history of powerful Roman women before Agrippina, including her great-grandmother Livia, wife of the first Roman emperor, Augustus. Much of this section is overly familiar, reading at times like a recap of I, Claudius. But this background gains significance once Agrippina the Younger makes her appearance. Barrett persuasively argues that Roman chroniclers were unable to see Agrippina or her predecessors except through the stereotype of the politically ambitious woman: a seductive poisoner with no sense of moral bounds. By carefully weighing the historical record, taking into account the distorting power of misogynist folklore, the author disputes such commonplaces as the idea that Agrippina murdered her husband, Claudius, and slept with her son Nero. His Agrippina is a politically adroit consensus-builder whose influence over two emperors contributed to the most enlightened portions of their reigns. Her diplomatic skill falters only in the handling of her teenage son--a miscalculation that leads to her execution in 54 a.d. on his orders. That Agrippina's murder was celebrated as a just comeuppance demonstrates the persistence of the ``age-old resentment of powerful and ambitious women.'' Though Barrett draws no contemporary analogies, the reader may easily do so. Despite the high-mindedness of his central theme, the author is always alert to the pleasures of ``juicy anecdote[s]'' (such as Agrippina's supposed incest with her brother Caligula), and recounts them in full, if only to discredit them. A scholarly yet accessible biography that largely succeeds in replacing Grand Guignol with something more satisfying: the tragedy of a natural leader born female in a society afraid to be led by women. (illustrations, not seen) (History Book Club selection) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (July 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300078560
• ISBN-13: 978-0300078565
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Biography, May 24, 2002

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agrippina: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Early Empire (Paperback)

I have had a copy of this book since it was first published and have found it an invaluable resource. Anthony Barrett discusses the life of Agrippina and her times completely, and presents a well-formed opinion on the more obscure and difficult aspects of Roman history. Claudius, for example, comes off as being intelligent and politically astute rather than an ugly, dithering fool. The complexities and politics of Claudius' reign are very well discussed. Aspects of Agrippina's life (that are usually taken for granted) are examined in full by Mr. Barrett. Did she poison Claudius? It certainly appears to have suited her aims in keeping Nero as the sole heir to the empire but there are so many inconsistencies among ancient sources that renders it impossible to definitely say Agrippina did the crime.

Mr. Barrett also discusses the closing years of Agrippina's life as the Empress Mother particularly well. He covers the lack of any information about her in sources and relates her presumed murder at Nero's hands in detail with a critical view of what Tacitus, Suetionius and Dio say what happened. He does not go into detail concerning points of view that suggest Agrippina was, in truth, involved in a conspiracy but he does make mention of this idea and footnotes the article.

In short, a very readable and balanced account of the younger Agrippina. Mr. Barrett takes the time to present a full picture of Agrippina, her family and her role in Roman history. In particular, I found the description of Nero's youth and path to becoming Claudius' successor as more detailed and of greater use than Miriam Griffin's book about Nero. The bibliography is among the more useful I have encountered. Readers will find Mr. Barrett's account of the early empire to be stimulating.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare and fascinating commodity, Agrippina., November 2, 2000

By 

Richard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Agrippina: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Early Empire (Paperback)

Antony Barrett, as a historian and biographer, accomplishes more in this work than providing a persuasive case as to why Agrippina the Younger has been misjudged and requires rehabilitation. One of the additional values of this biography of Agrippina, is the appreciation that the reader obtains as to the reality of maintaining ongoing political balance between the elite who comprised the executive and legislative branches of Roman government. Agrippina, as a daughter, sister, niece, wife and mother, was a lifelong protagonist in this politic, playing for personal survival or Julio-Claudian family pre-eminence and dynastic continuation. The end of the Republican political compromise is thrown into relief by Antony Barrett's focus on the diplomatic balance that Agrippina rationally maintained, and the political chaos which preceded, punctuated and followed her life is better explained by our understanding of her work methods in various political partnerships. Agrippina was, and remains, a rare and fascinating commodity.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue in Rome, May 16, 2003

By 

Wallace V. French III (Boston MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Agrippina: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Early Empire (Paperback)

This is the first book published in English written solely about the life of Agrippina. FYI the original title of this book, published in England, was "Agrippina, Mother of Nero." The subtitle of this book is great because she really embodied all of this. She used marriage and sex to get power and make political decisions through first her brother Caligula then her husband Claudius then her lovers Seneca, Dio and others then finally through her son Nero. When Nero was a child emperor and he was advised by tutors, namely Seneca, Agrippina wielded huge influence on the entire Roman Empire. The first and pretty much only woman ever able to do that in ancient Rome. Even after Nero grew up and killed Seneca and everyone else who plotted against him Agrippina still influenced Nero on public policy and probably advised him on who to kill next. Barrett argues that she made wise decisions. However, it wasn't enough to stop her son from killing her in 59 after a lovers fight. Apparently they had an argument and subsequent falling out and when you fall-out of favor with Nero you could count on certain death; mother or not. Barrett's got some great stuff in here. A section on "Significant Events and Figures" is a great reference and contains lists like Agrippina's husbands, lovers, and victims. He also has a good timeline of her life, a few maps, and a lot of further reading in the huge 20 page bibliography. It is the only book in English on the subject.