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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. And it came to pass that Nero got wind of a attempt of Agrippina to assassinate and sent [[roman::Agerinus]] to dispatch him. The coup failed and Nero amde 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. | 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. And it came to pass that Nero got wind of a attempt of Agrippina to assassinate and ahd sent [[roman::Agerinus]] to dispatch him. The coup failed and Nero amde 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 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. Various people 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 some soldiers who turn up at her house and kill her. | 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. | ||
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. 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. | 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]] was begging him to marry her but Agrippina stood in the way. Now we have the concept that Poppaea talked Nero into murdering her so that he could produce a rightful heir. This indeed did happen but it was in AD62, three years after her death. Unfortunately the baby survived 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. | ||
Alternatively, it was possible that she was travelling to the festival and conspiring with [[roman::Ortho]] to depose Claudius when her shipped was accidentally rammed. As a back plan Agerinus was sent to stab Nero ut failed. She swam back to her estate and hearing news of the botched assassiantion attemtpt she took her own life before she could be arrested. | |||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[category:Ancient Rome]] | [[category:Ancient Rome]] | ||
Revision as of 19:02, 22 April 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 roman::Tacitus, 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. And it came to pass that Nero got wind of a attempt of Agrippina to assassinate and ahd sent Agerinus to dispatch him. The coup failed and Nero amde 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.
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 was begging him to marry her but Agrippina stood in the way. Now we have the concept that Poppaea talked Nero into murdering her so that he could produce a rightful heir. This indeed did happen but it was in AD62, three years after her death. Unfortunately the baby survived 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.
Alternatively, it was possible that she was travelling to the festival and conspiring with Ortho to depose Claudius when her shipped was accidentally rammed. As a back plan Agerinus was sent to stab Nero ut failed. She swam back to her estate and hearing news of the botched assassiantion attemtpt she took her own life before she could be arrested.
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