Talk:Agrippa Postumus

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The book version of I, Claudius (though not the miniseries) features Posthumus Agrippa being switched with a sailor shortly before Augustus's death, and then showing up in Rome to claim the throne, and then being killed by Tiberius, who claimed he was an imposter. I am well aware that this story is untrue, but ought it (like other I, Claudian apocrypha) be mentioned in the article? john k 17:50, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

It would be an interesting thing to do, and it was one of the highlights of the I, Claudius book, the whole Postumus is alive thing. I think it could be mentioned briefly, but not stressed upon. --Camblunt100 11:18, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

It's based on a true story. According to Tacitus, there really was a man named Clemens who was one of the many people attempted to rescue Postumus-- when he got there he found Postumus dead, cremated him but then went around pretending to be Postumus. He was eventually killed by Tiberius. --Sophie-Lou 14:28, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Who killed Agrippa Postumus?

Would Augustus really have left instructions to the guards for him to be executed or does everyone think this was just an excuse that Tiberius and/or Livia made so they could get rid of him without anyone knowing. --Camblunt100 14:33, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

I believe that Tiberius used it as an excuse to have him killed. Augustus thought about killing many of his relatives but he never did-- his one weakness was loyalty to his family. --Sophie-Lou 10:12, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

-- This is one of those things we'll never know unless someone has a time machine. Here's the breakdown of who gave the order:

• Tacitus (Ann. 1.6): allegedly Augustus, but more probably Tiberius and Livia
• Cassius Dio (57.3.6): Tiberius, reporting as rumors Augustus, Livia, or a centurion acting on his own
• Suetonius (Tib. 22): either Augustus or Livia, and if Livia, not clear if with or without Tiberius' knowledge.

Robin Seager, in Tiberius, 2nd ed. (Malden, MA & Oxford: Blackwell, 2005), 41 with 250 n. 7, suggests Augustus had left the orders because Agrippa was not mentioned in Augustus' will and therefore not expected to survive. I'm not sure about that, but whatever. It can all only be speculation. --Frippo 02:04, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] I, Claudius

I recommend moving the I, Claudius stuff to a separate section at the end and not including it as a source. --Frippo 02:08, 1 February 2007 (UTC)