Editing Gaius Caesar (section)

== Background ==

[[File:Marcus agrippa louvre portrait.jpg|thumb|180px|Bust of Gaius's father, [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa]]]]

[[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa]] was an early supporter of Augustus (then "Octavius") during the [[Final War of the Roman Republic]] that ensued as a result of the [[assassination of Julius Caesar]] in 44 BC. He was a key general in Augustus' armies, commanding troops in pivotal battles against [[Mark Antony]] and [[Sextus Pompeius]]. From early on, Agrippa was trusted to handle affairs in the eastern provinces and was even given the signet ring of Augustus, who was seemingly on his deathbed in 23 BC, a sign that he would become ''princeps'' were Augustus to die. However, as soon as he recovered, Augustus began to show he favored his nephew, [[Marcellus (nephew of Augustus)|Marcus Claudius Marcellus]], then just 19. However, Marcellus died of an illness that had spread throughout the city of Rome that year.<ref>{{harvnb|Bunson|2002|p=10}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Southern|2013|p=203}}</ref><ref name=Dunston274>{{harvnb|Dunstan|2010|p=274}}</ref>

With Marcellus gone, Augustus arranged for the marriage of Agrippa to his daughter [[Julia the Elder]], who was previously the wife of Marcellus. Agrippa was given ''[[tribunician power|tribunicia potestas]]'' ("the tribunician power") in 18 BC, a power that Augustus received in 23 BC, and later on was exercised only by the emperor and shared with some heirs (Agrippa, Tiberius). The tribunician power allowed him to control the Senate. Agrippa acted as tribune in the Senate to pass important legislation and, though he lacked some of the emperor's power and authority, he was approaching the position of co-regent.<ref name=Dunston274/><ref>{{harvnb|Rowe|2002|pp=52–54}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Scullard|2013|p=216}}</ref>