Tacitus - Annals 14.5

Tacitus - Annals 14.5: The Failed Assassination

noctem sideribus inlustrem et placido mari quietam quasi convincendum ad scelus dii praebuere . nec multum erat progressa navis , duobus e numero familiarium Agrippinam comitantibus , ex quis Crepereius Gallus haud procul gubernaculis adstabat , Acerronia super pedes cubitantis reclinis paenitentiam filii et reciperatam matris gratiam per gaudium memorabat , cum dato signo ruere tectum loci multo plumbo grave , pressus que Crepereius et statim exanimatus est : Agrippina et Acerronia eminentibus lecti parietibus ac forte validioribus quam ut oneri cederent protectae sunt . nec dissolutio navigii sequebatur , turbatis omnibus et quod plerique ignari etiam conscios impediebant . visum dehinc remigibus unum in latus inclinare atque ita navem submergere : sed neque ipsis promptus in rem subitam consensus , et alii contra nitentes dedere facultatem lenioris in mare iactus . verum Acerronia , imprudentia dum se Agrippinam esse ut que subveniretur matri principis clamitat , contis et remis et quae fors obtulerat navalibus telis conficitur : Agrippina silens eo que minus adgnita ( unum tamen vulnus umero excepit ) nando , deinde occursu lenunculorum Lucrinum in lacum vecta villae suae infertur .

Section 14.5 Translation: The gods offered a night bright with stars and silent with a peaceful sea, as if to expose the crime. The ship had not advanced far; two from the number of her friends were accompanying Agrippina, of whom Crepereius Gallus was standing not far from the rudders, Acerronia, reclining above the feet of (Agrippina) who was lying down, was joyfully talking about the repentance of her son and the mother's recovered influence, when, at a given signal, the roof of the room, which was heavy with a considerable amount of lead, fell down, Crepereius was crushed and died immediately: Agrippina and Acerronia were protected by the high walls of the bed, which were, by chance, too strong to give way to the load (of the falling masonry). Nor did there follow any break-up of the ship, though everyone was confused and because the ignorant majority were hindering even those who were in the know. Then the rowers decided to lean on one side of the ship and thus sink it: but their agreement was not quick enough for the sudden event, and others pressing on the opposite side produced the opportunity for being cast more gently into the sea. But Acerronia through bad judgement, while she shouted that she was Agrippina and to help the emperor's mother was killed with poles, oars and whatever naval weapons chance had offered. Agrippina, remaining silent, and for that reason not recognised (she had, nevertheless, received one wound in the shoulder), by swimming and then meeting some small boats, was carried to the Lucrine Lake and brought to her villa.

Passage Analysis

What Happens

The assassination attempt fails spectacularly. The perfect weather—starlit and calm—ironically makes an "accident" implausible. The rigged ceiling, weighted with lead, crashes on signal but only kills Crepereius Gallus instantly. Agrippina and Acerronia survive, protected by the couch's strong frame. The ship fails to break apart as planned. In the chaos, with ignorant crew members hindering those in on the plot, the rowers attempt Plan B: capsizing by all leaning to one side. But they can't coordinate quickly enough, and counter-balancing by confused sailors creates only a gentle slide into the sea. Acerronia seals her fate by claiming to be Agrippina, hoping for rescue but receiving death by oars and poles instead. Agrippina's silence saves her—unrecognised despite a shoulder wound, she swims until small boats rescue her and take her to safety at her Lucrine villa.

Key Themes & Ideas

Divine Irony: The gods seem to expose rather than aid the crime through perfect weather that makes accident implausible.
Mechanical Failure: The elaborate engineering fails—the ceiling kills the wrong person, the ship won't break, the crew can't coordinate.
Fatal Loyalty: Acerronia's attempt to protect Agrippina by impersonating her leads directly to her death.
Silence as Survival: Agrippina's strategic silence contrasts with Acerronia's fatal shouting—knowing when not to speak saves her life.
Chaos vs Conspiracy: The confused majority disrupts the knowing minority—incompetence defeats planning.
Physical Resilience: Agrippina's ability to swim despite injury shows her exceptional survival instinct and strength.

Tacitean Technique

Divine Framework: Opening with gods "offering" the night frames events as cosmically significant rather than mere human crime.
Precise Positioning: Exact description of where everyone was creates forensic reconstruction of the crime scene.
Parenthetical Detail: The aside about Agrippina's wound adds crucial information without breaking narrative flow.
Contrasting Pairs: Silens/clamitat, conscios/ignari show how opposites determine fate.
Diminutives: "Lenunculorum" (little boats) emphasises humble rescue versus grand murder attempt.
Present Tense Climax: "Conficitur" (is killed) shifts to present for Acerronia's death, increasing immediacy.

Historical Context

The mechanical details reflect real Roman engineering—collapsible ceilings and weighted panels were technically feasible. Lead (plumbum) was the standard heavy material for such purposes. The geographic references are precise: the Lucrine Lake was a coastal lagoon near Baiae, separated from the sea by a narrow strip. Small fishing boats (lenunculi) would have been common there. The confusion between knowing conspirators and ignorant crew reflects how such plots required limiting knowledge to preserve secrecy, but this very limitation caused the failure. Acerronia Polla was a real historical figure, Agrippina's close friend and confidante. Her fatal loyalty—trying to save Agrippina by impersonation—shows the strength of their bond. The shoulder wound Agrippina received would later serve as evidence of the assassination attempt. Swimming was an unusual skill for Roman aristocratic women, suggesting Agrippina's exceptional upbringing or foresight.

Questions to Consider

What is the significance of the gods "offering" perfect weather—divine opposition or cosmic irony?
How does the mechanical failure of the elaborate plot reflect on Roman overconfidence in engineering?
Why does Tacitus emphasise the contrast between those "in the know" and the "ignorant"?
What does Acerronia's fatal mistake reveal about loyalty, identity, and survival?
How does Agrippina's silence demonstrate her political intelligence even in mortal danger?
What symbolic meaning might the "little boats" carry in rescuing Agrippina from the grand assassination attempt?