Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus

1-240970

Marcus Agrippa personified the term 'right-hand man.' As Emperor Augustus' deputy, he waged wars, pacified provinces, beautified Rome, and played a critical role in laying the foundations of the Pax Romana for the next two hundred years - but he served always in the knowledge he would never rule in his own name. Why he did so, and never grasped power exclusively for himself, has perplexed historians for centuries.

Following Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March 44 BC, Agrippa was instrumental in asserting Caius Octavius as heir. He established a reputation as a bold admiral and proved his genius for military command on land by ending bloody rebellions in the Cimmerian Bosporus, Gaul, Hispania and Illyricum. In Gaul, Agrippa established the road network that helped turn Julius Caesar's conquests into viable provinces. As a diplomat, he befriended Herod the Great of Judaea and stabilized the East. As minister of works, he overhauled Rome's drains and aqueducts, transformed public bathing in the city, created public parks with great artworks, and built the original Pantheon.

Illustrated with color plates, figures and high quality maps, Lindsay Powell presents a penetrating new assessment of the life and achievements of the multifaceted man who put service to friend and country before himself.