Agrippina’s first marriage came at the age of 13, in the form of an arranged union between her and alleged psychopath Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, who also happened to be her paternal second cousin. Whilst Agrippina was at such an age that maniacal plans and manipulation were not at the forefront of her mind, this marriage still served to establish her as a well known figure in Roman society. Ahenobarbus was wealthy, and had held several positions of prominence, in addition to being a blood relative of the emperor Augustus.
However, Ahenobarbus was regarded with some degree of notoriety; he was known for his impulsive, violent and sadistic behaviour. In one example, it was alleged he ran down a child in his chariot in the street. This, and the fact that he was in his forties when he married the thirteen year-old Agrippina, resulted in a marriage which would have been far from harmonious. Indeed, Suetonius stated he was “a man who was in every aspect of his life detestable”.
Despite the seemingly incongruity of their marriage, Ahenobarbus still provided Agrippina with the means to expand her power further, in the form of her son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (born 37CE), later to become the Emperor Nero. Having a son was key to establishing Agrippina as a genuine force in Roman politics. A son could be manipulated and indoctrinated to suit Agrippina’s needs, and by virtue of her illustrious family tree, her son was assured to ascend to a position of great power and prominence.
Three years after the birth of his son, Ahenobarbus died of oedema. This brought to an end the first of Agrippina’s marriages, allowing her to choose another husband. She was not thirteen anymore, and as such, she aimed to choose a husband who would grant her maximum power and influence. Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus was a man who wielded power and influence, and as such, suited Agrippina’s needs perfectly. His wealth allowed Agrippina to maintain and extend her social standing; however, she still lacked the total uthority she desired. Passienus died in 47CE, in a death which has been subject to much speculation as to the circumstances surrounding it. It has been alleged that Agrippina poisoned Passienus in order to gain full access to his considerable wealth, however she was never formally accused. Agrippina’s next marriage was perhaps the most significant, as it allowed her to gain virtually unlimited power. Armed with the inheritance she gained from the death of Passienus, Agrippina set about acquiring another husband.
She now did not seek only to acquire power for herself; she now sought power for her son. She realised that her power was inherently limited, as she could never become emperor. After eliminating her rivals, she married the Emperor Claudius, in a marriage based ostensibly on the acquisition of power. Claudius was a member of the Claudian family, however he was not related the Julians, a situation which could cause instability and factional infighting.
What Agrippina gained from the marriage was accession rights for her son, rights which would eventually come to fruition, allowing her son to become Emperor. She also became the Empress of Rome, a title which allowed her to become the most powerful woman in Rome, completing her methodical and conniving accession to both power and prominence. As evidenced above, Agrippina’s marriage’s played an essential role in her acquisition of power and prominence, as without her marriages, such influence would have remained unattainable.