Agrippa, Emperor?

I don't know much historical or political details, but how might of Agrippa the Equestrian ally and at one point heir of Augustus have become emperor and avoided death until later than he did in OT? And what might of his reign and impact on the Julio-Claudian dynasty been like?
 
TL this, because first Agrippa is an underestimated political genius, who helped shape alot of Octavian's policies and was widely respected by the plebs.. secondly he is the military brain behind Octavian becoming Emperor.. Thirdly is creates a real dynasty the can claim descent from Caesar and Octavian because Julia married Agrippa and had 3 sons and 2 daughters
 
Could Agrippa have paved the way for succession by one of his children while keeping the achievements of Tiberius as a general from OT?

A Tiberius who never became a reluctant emperor and Augustus' final option in the matter might be remembered quite fondly, might he not?

And you get to avoid Germanicus' popular little military brat, Caligula, from becoming emperor; right?

Again apologies, I know very little about Roman history but am currently enthused and probably scatteringly informed because of listening to some lectures on tape summarizing the Roman Emperors.
 
Could Agrippa have paved the way for succession by one of his children while keeping the achievements of Tiberius as a general from OT?

A Tiberius who never became a reluctant emperor and Augustus' final option in the matter might be remembered quite fondly, might he not?

And you get to avoid Germanicus' popular little military brat, Caligula, from becoming emperor; right?

Again apologies, I know very little about Roman history but am currently enthused and probably scatteringly informed because of listening to some lectures on tape summarizing the Roman Emperors.


1. Yes, Gaius and Lucius Caesar, Agrippa's sons, were considered very talented. In fact Gaius,the oldest, was an above average general at age 17 and appeared to have inherited his fathers military skills and his grandfathers political ones. This could have some interesting butterflies during the OTL reign of Tiberius

2. Yes, Tiberius would be remembered as the best general of Agrippa and lets say Gaius/Lucius's reign. He also wouldnt be forced into a loveless marriage with Julia. I think it would be interesting if Gaius married one of Tiberius's daughters if he had on in this ATL or his son marrying Agrippa's daughter

3. Caligula was the great grandson of Octavian and grandson of Agrippa, so potentially he could inherit the throne if all other Agrippan descendents died. Also Caligula was an above average ruler but became very sick and became a changed man after recovering from his illness.
 
There are two main problems with Agrippa himself becoming emperor.

The main one is that he did not have a personal connection to Caesar. Octavian who became Augustus was making up the imperial system as he went along, and at this point in time it was not the institution it became. It was all about Octavian's personal reputation and standing, and the fact that he was Caesar's son (the fact that he was adopted doesn't matter).

Secondly, through Caesar Octavian was not only of senatorial rank, but patrician too, and most importantly was one of the nobiles. As far as I remember Agrippa was a novus homo - no one in his family had been a consul before him. Individuals of lower rank could and were trusted because in terms of prestige and standing they were not a threat - it was for this reason that Egypt was 'odd' in having an equestrian prefect as governor and not a proconsul or propraetor; anyone who could control Egypt would be a real threat (why also Augustus had to get rid of a few of the first prefects there - they didn't understand the role they were expected to play).

But I digress. Agrippa could not have become emperor, but his children, related to Augustus as they were, most definitely could have - and were meant too - but they died. :(
 
well Augustus himself was not even titled Emperor just titled Father of the Republic... he was mearly was consul constantly and had enough influnce in the senate to pass most legislation. Agrippa also was almost always Co-Consul with Augustus so the power could easily switch hands. The term Emperor is also a relatively modern term for the ruler of Rome during this time.... And they ruled through the backing of the army and huge wealth for bribes.
 
In an earlier thread, something like this came up, with the POD being that Caesar was defeated by Pompey during their civil war. Pompey and the Traditionalists' victory means that Caesar and Antony both kill themselves, and so end that round of civil war. The Republic continues shakily along.

Agrippa has the military skill and political connections to end commanding the successful invasion of Parthia, and the wealth accumulated from that conquest allows him to prosecute a successful round of civil wars and end the Republic.

Octavian could probably survive his great-uncle's death, and he has a LOT of political skills, so he probably makes a later emergence. Rather than being the leading figure in the end of the Republic as he was OTL he could lend some gravitas to Agrippa's entourage. In this TL Agrippa's position as a 'new man' might not mean as much, after all, Pompey saved the Republic, and he was a 'new man' too. So Octavian ends up in a similar position to what Agrippa was to him, only as a kind of prime minister, taking care of messy Roman politics while Agrippa thinks deep thoughts and wins great victories.
 
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It would be very difficult for Agrippa to become Emperor, since he was older (I think possibly significantly so) than Augustus. His sons on the other hand could, and originally were supposed to, succeed Augustus, which I think would be an easier PoD.
 
It would be very difficult for Agrippa to become Emperor, since he was older (I think possibly significantly so) than Augustus. His sons on the other hand could, and originally were supposed to, succeed Augustus, which I think would be an easier PoD.

They were both born in the same year, 63 BC, so that not an issue.

Augustus was serisouly sick a few times during his life and during the first bouts of sickness, I think Agripppa was a;ready his heir.
 
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