Name Vipsania Agrippina Died 20 AD, Ventotene, Italy | Siblings Agrippina the Elder | |
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Children Drusus Julius Caesar, Marcus Asinius Agrippa, Servius Asinius Celer, Gneus Asinius Saloninus Parents Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Pomponia Caecilia Attica Similar People | ||
Vipsania Agrippina (; 36 BC – 20 AD) was the first wife of the Emperor Tiberius. She was the daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Pomponia Caecilia Attica, granddaughter of Titus Pomponius Atticus. By marriage, she was a great-niece to Quintus Tullius Cicero.
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She was betrothed by Augustus and her father to Tiberius before her first birthday. They were married around 19 BC. Their son Drusus Julius Caesar was born in 14 BC.
When her father died in March 12 BC, he was married to his third wife, Julia the Elder, the daughter of Augustus. Augustus forced Tiberius to divorce Vipsania and marry Julia, despite his love for the former and disapproval of the latter. At the time of their divorce, Vipsania was pregnant with a second child, who did not survive.
Tiberius divorced Vipsania against his will in 11 BC (non sine magno angore animi according to Suetonius) and never ceased to rue his action. On one occasion Tiberius caught sight of Vipsania and followed her with an intent and tearful gaze. Precautions were taken to avoid further embarrassing meetings with her.
In 11 BC she married Gaius Asinius Gallus Saloninus, a Senator and son of the famous orator Gaius Asinius Pollio. They had at least six sons. Vipsania Agrippina died in AD 20, a few days after the ovation of her son Drusus, which took place on 28 May.
Tiberius hated Gallus, not least because Gallus claimed that Drusus was his own son. In 30, at Tiberius' instigation, the Senate was to declare Gallus a public enemy. He died in prison in 33, of starvation.
Vipsania and Gallus' known sons were:
A descendant of Vipsania and Gallus, Pomponia Graecina, became a distinguished lady. Pomponia might have been a Christian and lived an unhappy long life. Pomponia married Aulus Plautius. Plautius was a general in the conquest of Britain, which he received as a military ovation. Nero murdered their son, reportedly because Agrippina the Younger, mother of Nero, was in love with him and encouraged him to bid for the throne.
Another descendant or otherwise relative, Gaius Asinius Lepidus Praetextatus (210 – after 242), became a Consul in 242, being the son of Gaius Asinius Lepidus, Suffect Consul of Rome in 222 and wife (Vettia) (born 190 or 195).
Tacitus states that Vipsania was the only one of Agrippa's children to die without violence. She was one of the leading women of her time, and between 21-23, her son Drusus honored her memory with statues, coins and inscriptions.
In popular culture
Robert Graves' novel I, Claudius mentions Tiberius following Vipsania with his eyes after their divorce, referencing Suetonius. Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Tiberius. 7.
The television adaptation went somewhat further, the first episode included a fairly lengthy scene between Tiberius and Vipsania on the eve of her second marriage, with Tiberius upset and regretting their divorce. She was played by Sheila Ruskin.
Ancestry
(See also Julio-Claudian family tree)