Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius

Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius (mär`kəs vĭpsā`nēəs əgrĭp`ə), c.63 B.C.–12 B.C., Roman general. A close friend of Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), he won a name in the wars in Gaul before becoming consul in 37 B.C. He organized Octavian's fleet and is generally given much credit for the defeat (36 B.C.) of Sextus Pompeius in the naval battles at Mylae and Naulochus (N Sicily). Agrippa took part in the war against Antony, and his naval operations were the basis of Octavian's decisive victory at Actium in 31 B.C. He was perhaps the most trusted of all Augustus' lieutenants and rendered many services, notably in putting down disorders in both the East and West. His third wife was Augustus' daughter Julia.

Bibliography

See biography by M. Reinhold (1933).

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Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, marble portrait bust, early 1st century BC; in the Louvre, Paris.

(credit: Cliche Musees Nationaux, Paris)

(born 63 BC?—died March, 12 BC, Campania) Powerful deputy of Augustus. He helped Octavian (later Augustus) take power after Julius Caesar's murder (44 BC), defeating Sextus Pompeius in 36 and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium in 31. He went on to quell rebellions, found colonies, administer parts of the empire, and give to Rome funds for public works and buildings. In 23 Augustus seemed to make him heir, and Agrippa married Augustus's daughter, Julia. His administrative and military skills were particularly directed to the eastern empire, where in 15 he met with and made an ally of Herod of Judaea. Agrippa's writings (now lost) influenced Strabo and Pliny the Elder. His daughter Agrippina the Elder (14? BC–AD 33) was the wife of Germanicus Caesar, mother of Caligula and Agrippina the Younger, and grandmother of Nero.