Agrippina
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==The Death of Agrippina== | ==The Death of Agrippina== | ||
| − | Many of the accounts of the death of Agrippina were from writers who looked upon Nero unfavorably although that should not discount the accounts that we have from [[author::roman::Tacitus]], [[author::roman::Suetonius]] and others. Apparently, there was bad blood between them and they had both separately concluded that the other should die or risk dying at the other's hands. | + | Many of the accounts of the death of Agrippina were from writers who looked upon Nero unfavorably although that should not discount the accounts that we have from [[author::roman::Tacitus]], [[author::roman::Suetonius]] and others. Apparently, there was bad blood between them and they had both separately concluded that the other should die or risk dying at the other's hands. In time Nero believed there was a conspiracy to murder him concocted by Agrippina who was to send [[roman::Agerinus]] to dispatch him. The coup failed and Nero made plans to get rid of her before she had another opportunity to depose him. Alexis Dawson in her article ''What Ever Happened to Lady Agrippina'' <ref> ..</ref> accuses Tacitus of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story. It's true that it is a facinating story, twisting and turning upon every fate. |
| − | To summarize it goes something like this. After Agrippina's failed coup attempt, Nero throws a party for her (The feast of [[character::Athena|Minerva]] and sends her on her way in the evening on a booby-trapped boat. The ceiling in her cabin is designed to cave in and being lined with lead it will, it is hoped, crush her and sink the boat. However, the falling ceiling fails to crush her as the couch breaks its fall. Some of the crew are in on the ruse and proceed to scupper the boat. Agrippina manages to swim out of the boat and then too safety on her island retreat at [[place::Bauli]] suffering only a shoulder wound. Various people on the shore then come to her rescue but she tells them to tell Nero not to worry and not to send help. Agrippina is not dull and she has figured out who is behind the plot. Despite her entreaties, Nero despatches [[roman::Anicetus]] and some soldiers who turn up at her house and kill her. "Smite my womb" <ref>Tacitus</ref> is her repost' but it is 22 years too late. | + | To summarize,it goes something like this. After Agrippina's failed coup attempt, Nero throws a party for her (The feast of [[character::Athena|Minerva]]) and sends her on her way in the evening on a booby-trapped boat. The ceiling in her cabin is designed to cave in and being lined with lead it will, it is hoped, crush her and sink the boat. However, the falling ceiling fails to crush her as the couch breaks its fall. Some of the crew are in on the ruse and proceed to scupper the boat. Agrippina manages to swim out of the boat and then too safety on her island retreat at [[place::Bauli]] suffering only a shoulder wound. Various people on the shore then come to her rescue but she tells them to tell Nero not to worry and not to send help. Agrippina is not dull and she has figured out who is behind the plot. Despite her entreaties, Nero despatches [[roman::Anicetus]] and some soldiers who turn up at her house and kill her. "Smite my womb" <ref>Tacitus</ref> is her repost' but it is 22 years too late. |
| − | Of this account Dawson asserts ''that from beginning to end [they] are a farrago of lies and absurdities'' and she accuses Tacitus of moving around events to suit his narrative and create a compelling motive. The way that Tacitus tells it, Nero's mistress [[roman::Poppaea Sabina]] (and Otho's wife) was begging him to marry her but Agrippina stood in the way. The concept here is that Poppaea talked Nero into murdering Agrippina, marry her and produce an heir. This indeed did happen but it was in AD62, three years after Agrippina's death. Unfortunately the baby survived only a few months. Suetonius, she believes, is a little more believable by setting the action in her country estate but finds the method of murder, a collapsing roof, risible. It is also thought unlikely that Poppaea would have been so forward with her plans when she was still married to Otho. However, once Otho is out the way governing [[place::Lusitania]] this plan take on a lot more credence | + | Of this account Dawson asserts ''that from beginning to end [they] are a farrago of lies and absurdities'' and she accuses Tacitus of moving around events to suit his narrative and create a compelling motive. The way that Tacitus tells it, Nero's mistress [[roman::Poppaea Sabina]] (and [[roman::Otho]]'s wife) was begging him to marry her but Agrippina stood in the way. The concept here is that Poppaea talked Nero into murdering Agrippina, marry her and produce an heir. This indeed did happen but it was in AD62, three years after Agrippina's death. Unfortunately the baby survived only a few months. Suetonius, she believes, is a little more believable by setting the action in her country estate but finds the method of murder, a collapsing roof, risible. It is also thought unlikely that Poppaea would have been so forward with her plans when she was still married to Otho. However, once Otho is out the way governing [[place::Lusitania]] this plan take on a lot more credence |
| − | Alternatively, it was possible that she was travelling to the festival and conspiring with [[roman::Otho]] to depose Claudius when her shipped was accidentally rammed. As a back up plan Agerinus was sent to stab Nero but failed. She swam back to her estate and hearing news of the botched | + | Alternatively, it was possible that she was travelling to the festival and conspiring with [[roman::Otho]] to depose Claudius when her shipped was accidentally rammed. As a back up plan Agerinus was sent to stab Nero but failed. She swam back to her estate and hearing news of the botched assassination attemtpt she took her own life before she could be arrested. |
Although there are holes in Tacitus' account especially the role of Poppaea and the collapsing roof does sound like dramatic license, it is still possible that the events did take place but were a little more prosaic. Perhaps Nero was planning to murder her and was using the festival as cover. Perhaps her boat was accidentally rammed and she swam back to shore. And perhaps, upon Nero hearing intelligence of the event, hastily devised plan B and had Anicetus kill her whilst there was still confusion over the chronology of events. | Although there are holes in Tacitus' account especially the role of Poppaea and the collapsing roof does sound like dramatic license, it is still possible that the events did take place but were a little more prosaic. Perhaps Nero was planning to murder her and was using the festival as cover. Perhaps her boat was accidentally rammed and she swam back to shore. And perhaps, upon Nero hearing intelligence of the event, hastily devised plan B and had Anicetus kill her whilst there was still confusion over the chronology of events. | ||
Revision as of 08:53, 7 May 2013
Agrippina was the mother of Nero
The Death of Agrippina
Many of the accounts of the death of Agrippina were from writers who looked upon Nero unfavorably although that should not discount the accounts that we have from Tacitus, Suetonius and others. Apparently, there was bad blood between them and they had both separately concluded that the other should die or risk dying at the other's hands. In time Nero believed there was a conspiracy to murder him concocted by Agrippina who was to send Agerinus to dispatch him. The coup failed and Nero made plans to get rid of her before she had another opportunity to depose him. Alexis Dawson in her article What Ever Happened to Lady Agrippina [1] accuses Tacitus of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story. It's true that it is a facinating story, twisting and turning upon every fate.
To summarize,it goes something like this. After Agrippina's failed coup attempt, Nero throws a party for her (The feast of Minerva) and sends her on her way in the evening on a booby-trapped boat. The ceiling in her cabin is designed to cave in and being lined with lead it will, it is hoped, crush her and sink the boat. However, the falling ceiling fails to crush her as the couch breaks its fall. Some of the crew are in on the ruse and proceed to scupper the boat. Agrippina manages to swim out of the boat and then too safety on her island retreat at Bauli suffering only a shoulder wound. Various people on the shore then come to her rescue but she tells them to tell Nero not to worry and not to send help. Agrippina is not dull and she has figured out who is behind the plot. Despite her entreaties, Nero despatches Anicetus and some soldiers who turn up at her house and kill her. "Smite my womb" [2] is her repost' but it is 22 years too late.
Of this account Dawson asserts that from beginning to end [they] are a farrago of lies and absurdities and she accuses Tacitus of moving around events to suit his narrative and create a compelling motive. The way that Tacitus tells it, Nero's mistress Poppaea Sabina (and Otho's wife) was begging him to marry her but Agrippina stood in the way. The concept here is that Poppaea talked Nero into murdering Agrippina, marry her and produce an heir. This indeed did happen but it was in AD62, three years after Agrippina's death. Unfortunately the baby survived only a few months. Suetonius, she believes, is a little more believable by setting the action in her country estate but finds the method of murder, a collapsing roof, risible. It is also thought unlikely that Poppaea would have been so forward with her plans when she was still married to Otho. However, once Otho is out the way governing Lusitania this plan take on a lot more credence
Alternatively, it was possible that she was travelling to the festival and conspiring with Otho to depose Claudius when her shipped was accidentally rammed. As a back up plan Agerinus was sent to stab Nero but failed. She swam back to her estate and hearing news of the botched assassination attemtpt she took her own life before she could be arrested.
Although there are holes in Tacitus' account especially the role of Poppaea and the collapsing roof does sound like dramatic license, it is still possible that the events did take place but were a little more prosaic. Perhaps Nero was planning to murder her and was using the festival as cover. Perhaps her boat was accidentally rammed and she swam back to shore. And perhaps, upon Nero hearing intelligence of the event, hastily devised plan B and had Anicetus kill her whilst there was still confusion over the chronology of events.
