The Unsung Roman Badass: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Short biography of the military commander, architect, administrator, and loyal friend
Sometimes in history, there are figures not as recognised as renowned Emperors and Kings, but their gigantic achievements and the life they led would make most of them seem microscopic in comparison. This is certainly the case with Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who was born in 64 BC.
Not only did he triumph in many crucial battles all over the known world as a brilliant strategist and general and built Rome into the majestic city we know today, but he also bettered the lives of Romans and stood by Augustus as a master of statecraft.
Origins
Fascinatingly, Agrippa’s origins are uncertain. His family name, Vipsanius, which he suppressed throughout his life, was unknown before him. The Romans were very fixated on lineage and family honour. This would haunt Agrippa, the noble families were constantly displeased with his meteoric rise as he was a plebeian.
He is introduced as the closest friend of Octavian (great-nephew of Julius Caesar who would later become Augustus) in 44 BC, with whom they studied together in Apollonia (modern day Albania). His education indicates that he either belonged to a moderately wealthy family…
