Tacitus - Annals 14.8: The Murder of Agrippina

interim vulgato Agrippinae periculo , quasi casu evenisset , ut quisque acceperat , decurrere ad litus . hi molium obiectus , hi proximas scaphas scandere ; alii quantum corpus sinebat vadere in mare ; quidam manus protendere ; questibus , votis , clamore diversa rogitantium aut incerta respondentium omnis ora compleri ; adfluere ingens multitudo cum luminibus , atque ubi incolumem esse pernotuit , ut ad gratandum sese expedire , donec aspectu armati et minitantis agminis disiecti sunt . Anicetus villam statione circumdat refracta que ianua obvios servorum abripit , donec ad fores cubiculi veniret ; cui pauci adstabant , ceteris terrore inrumpentium exterritis . cubiculo modicum lumen inerat et ancillarum una , magis ac magis anxia Agrippina quod nemo a filio ac ne Agerinus quidem : aliam fore laetae rei faciem ; nunc solitudinem ac repentinos strepitus et extremi mali indicia . abeunte dehinc ancilla ' tu quoque me deseris ' prolocuta respicit Anicetum trierarcho Herculeio et Obarito centurione classiario comitatum : ac , si ad visendum venisset , refotam nuntiaret , sin facinus patraturus , nihil se de filio credere ; non imperatum parricidium . circumsistunt lectum percussores et prior trierarchus fusti caput eius adflixit . iam in mortem centurioni ferrum destringenti protendens uterum ' ventrem feri ' exclamavit multis que vulneribus confecta est .
Section 14.8 Translation: Meanwhile, when the danger to Agrippina became widely known, as if it had happened by chance, when each person had heard about it, they ran down to the shore. Some climbed onto the projecting moles, others the nearest boats; others waded into the sea as far as their body allowed; certain people stretched out their hands; the whole shore was filled with the complaints, prayers and the shouting of people repeatedly asking different things or giving uncertain replies; a huge crowd flocked to (the scene) with lights, and when it became generally known that she was safe, it prepared as if to give thanks, until they were scattered by the sight of an armed and threatening column of soldiers. Anicetus surrounded the villa with sentries, and having broken open the door, dragged aside those slaves who got in his way, until he reached the doors of the bedroom; few stood near it, the rest were scared stiff by dread of those bursting in. There was a moderate light and one of the maids in the bedroom, while Agrippina was more and more worried because no one (had come) from her son, not even Agerinus: (she said that) the appearance of a joyful event would be different; as it was, now there was solitude, sudden noises and signs of utmost calamity. Then, as the maid was leaving, (Agrippina), having declared 'Are you also deserting me?', looked around at Anicetus, accompanied by Herculeius, captain of a trireme, and the marine centurion Obaritus: and so, (she said that) if he had come to visit, he should take back the news that she had recovered, but if (he had come) to commit an outrage, she believed that there was no connection with her son; murder had not been ordered. The assassins surrounded the bed, and the trireme captain was the first to strike her head with a club. Then, as the centurion drew his sword for the death blow, Agrippina, stretching out her belly, shouted, 'Strike my womb' and was finished off with many wounds.

Passage Analysis

What Happens

News of Agrippina's "accident" spreads rapidly through Baiae. The public response is overwhelming—crowds rush to the shore with desperate concern, some climbing piers, others wading into the sea, stretching out hands in concern. The shore fills with prayers, questions, and confusion as people bring torches to search for survivors. When word spreads that she's alive, they prepare thanksgiving celebrations, showing genuine popular support for the emperor's mother. But this touching scene is brutally shattered when Anicetus arrives with soldiers who disperse the crowds and surround her villa.

Inside the villa, the assault is methodical and violent. The door is smashed, slaves dragged aside as they try to protect their mistress. Agrippina waits in her bedroom with dim lighting and only a single maid, growing increasingly anxious as no messenger comes from Nero—not even her trusted freedman Agerinus returns. She understands the terrible truth: "A happy outcome would look different." When even her maid tries to flee, Agrippina's plaintive "You too are deserting me?" captures her complete abandonment.

When Anicetus enters with his officers Herculeius and Obaritus, Agrippina makes one final attempt to maintain dignity. She tells them that if they've come to check on her welfare, they should report her recovery; if they've come to commit murder, she refuses to believe it's on Nero's orders—"murder had not been ordered." The assassins respond with brutal efficiency: first a club blow to her head, then as the centurion draws his sword for the killing blow, Agrippina defiantly offers her belly, shouting "Strike my womb!"—the very womb that bore her son. She dies from multiple wounds.

Historical Context

Baiae was a fashionable Roman resort town on the Bay of Naples, densely populated with villas of the wealthy elite. Its compact nature explains how news travelled so rapidly and crowds could gather quickly. The stone piers (moles) extending into the bay and small boats (scaphae) were typical coastal infrastructure. Romans bringing torches (lumina) for night searching reflects both practical necessity and traditional mourning rituals.

The brutal military response to civilian concern was standard Roman crowd control—imperial forces showed no hesitation in using violence against unarmed citizens when state security was involved. Agrippina's bedroom security detail abandoning her reveals how quickly loyalty evaporates when imperial favour shifts. The dim lighting from oil lamps would have made the scene even more terrifying.

Anicetus was admiral of the fleet at Misenum, making him a senior military officer. His companions Herculeius (trireme captain) and Obaritus (marine centurion) represent different naval ranks participating in the assassination. The use of multiple weapons—club and sword—with multiple wounds was standard military practice to ensure death and distribute responsibility among the killers.

Agrippina's final words about her womb connect to ancient beliefs about maternal curses and the sanctity of motherhood. By commanding them to strike the source of Nero's existence, she transforms her murder into a symbolic assault on the very principle of filial duty that underpinned Roman society.

Questions to Consider

  • What does the spontaneous public support for Agrippina reveal about her position versus Nero's popularity?
  • How does the progression from crowded shore to isolated bedroom reflect the nature of political abandonment?
  • Why does Tacitus give Agrippina direct speech ("tu quoque," "ventrem feri") at crucial moments?
  • What is the significance of her commanding the assassins to strike her womb specifically?
  • How does the contrast between popular grief and state violence comment on the nature of imperial power?
  • What does Agrippina's final attempt to protect Nero's reputation reveal about maternal loyalty?
  • How does the mechanical efficiency of the assassination contrast with the emotional chaos of the public response?
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