agrippina and the death of Claudius
AGRIPPINA AND THE DEATH OF CLAUDIUS
Was Agrippina responsible for the death of Claudius?
BY “Lydia Irankunda”
Claudius was the emperor of Rome from 45-41 B.C after Caligula. Claudius married four times. His fourth and final wife was Agrippina his niece. He actually had to get the law changed to allow him to marry his niece because laws against incest previously covered first cousins.
For years there have been different interpretations of whether Agrippina killed Claudius. Although it is difficult to find the truth in a crime committed so many years ago, through the investigation of ancient and modern sources we are able to gather evidence of whether Agrippina did kill Claudius or if he died from a natural cause. Sources like Tacitus and Dio Cassicus claim that Agrippina killed Claudius for her own reasons, while other sources like Seneca (more of a contemporary writer) claims nothing about poison. Based on the evidence it’s possible that Agrippina did kill Claudius. Claudius was a Roman emperor from 41-45 B.C. member of the Julio-Claudius family, who later in life married his niece Agrippina. According to Suetonius, Agrippina persuaded Claudius into marrying her through dishonesty. Ancient historians suggest that in the months leading to Claudius’s death, Agrippina and Claudius had become more aggressive and Claudius was expressing to Agrippina that he wanted to see his son Britannicus approach manhood for Britannicus was the next in line to reign. Agrippina was not pleased with Claudius’ plan because she had motives to ensure the succession of her own son Nero, who was older than Britannicus (C. Suetonius Tranquillius 43).
One can imagine that the courtship and marriage of Claudius and Agrippina must have been all joy, excitement, sweetness and light. She must have been delighted at her husband-to-be’s influence in getting the incest law rewritten just for her. The honeymoon intensity between them may not have lasted very long. Donald L.
Was Agrippina responsible for the death of Claudius?
BY “Lydia Irankunda”
Claudius was the emperor of Rome from 45-41 B.C after Caligula. Claudius married four times. His fourth and final wife was Agrippina his niece. He actually had to get the law changed to allow him to marry his niece because laws against incest previously covered first cousins.
For years there have been different interpretations of whether Agrippina killed Claudius. Although it is difficult to find the truth in a crime committed so many years ago, through the investigation of ancient and modern sources we are able to gather evidence of whether Agrippina did kill Claudius or if he died from a natural cause. Sources like Tacitus and Dio Cassicus claim that Agrippina killed Claudius for her own reasons, while other sources like Seneca (more of a contemporary writer) claims nothing about poison. Based on the evidence it’s possible that Agrippina did kill Claudius. Claudius was a Roman emperor from 41-45 B.C. member of the Julio-Claudius family, who later in life married his niece Agrippina. According to Suetonius, Agrippina persuaded Claudius into marrying her through dishonesty. Ancient historians suggest that in the months leading to Claudius’s death, Agrippina and Claudius had become more aggressive and Claudius was expressing to Agrippina that he wanted to see his son Britannicus approach manhood for Britannicus was the next in line to reign. Agrippina was not pleased with Claudius’ plan because she had motives to ensure the succession of her own son Nero, who was older than Britannicus (C. Suetonius Tranquillius 43).
One can imagine that the courtship and marriage of Claudius and Agrippina must have been all joy, excitement, sweetness and light. She must have been delighted at her husband-to-be’s influence in getting the incest law rewritten just for her. The honeymoon intensity between them may not have lasted very long. Donald L.