4 – Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (63 BC – 12 BC) [Emperor Augustus]
Agrippa was approximately the same age as Gaius Octavius (the future Emperor Augustus), and the two were educated together and soon become close friends. During the Civil War, Agrippa’s brother, Lucius, fought against Caesar but when the Optimates forces were defeated, Lucius was arrested. However, Octavius intervened on Lucius’ behalf and ensured he was freed. Interestingly, Agrippa fought with Caesar and was involved in the decisive Battle of Munda in 45 BC.
In the same year, Caesar sent him to Apollonia to study with Octavius, but when he heard news of Caesar’s assassination in March 44 BC, he urged the future emperor to march on Rome with the troops he had at his disposal. Octavius didn’t heed this advice and elected to sail to Italy with a small group. By now, Octavius was Caesar’s heir, and he took the name of the fallen commander; historians refer to him as Octavian from that point until the day he became Augustus.
The death of Caesar led to a fierce power struggle, and Agrippa was one of Octavian’s most important officers. He was the praetor urbanus in 40 BC and became consul in 37 BC after spending two years away on military campaigns. In 37 BC, he married the daughter of Titus Atticus, one of Cicero’s friends. Mark Antony apparently arranged the marriage, possibly as part of a peace agreement with Octavian at Brundisium. In 36 BC, Agrippa showed his naval skills by defeating Sextus Pompeius, the son of Pompey, in two sea battles; first at Mylae and then at Naulochus.
Octavian rewarded his main commander with a golden grown. Agrippa continued to show his brilliance with a key role in his leader’s successful campaign in Dalmatia. As curile aedile in 33 BC, Agrippa spent his own money on improving Rome’s water supply, building baths and cleaning the sewers. His crowning achievement came at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC when he played a major role in destroying the fleet of Mark Antony and ensuring Octavian won a final victory in the Civil War.
Agrippa spent the rest of his career serving Octavian. He helped his leader carry out a purge of the Senate in 29/28 BC and was consul in 28 BC and 27 BC. Agrippa stood by his ruler as Octavian became Augustus in 27 BC. When the new emperor was extremely ill in 23 BC, he handed Agrippa his signet ring; an indication that Agrippa would be his successor. Augustus recovered, and Agrippa began traveling around the growing empire; he also set up colonies for veterans. Agrippa succumbed to illness in 12 BC, and when he died, Augustus delivered a funeral oration in his friend’s honor.