Editing Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (section)

==Later life==
[[File:Merida Roman Theatre2.jpg|thumb|200px|The theatre at [[Merida, Spain]]; it was promoted by Agrippa, built between 16 and 15 BC.]]
Agrippa's friendship with Augustus seems to have been clouded by the jealousy of Augustus's nephew and son-in-law [[Marcus Claudius Marcellus (Julio-Claudian dynasty)|Marcus Claudius Marcellus]].<ref name="Britannica1911">{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius |volume=1|pages=425–426}}</ref> Traditionally it is said that the result of such jealousy was that Agrippa left Rome, ostensibly to take over the governorship of eastern provinces – a sort of honourable exile. He only sent his [[legatus|legate]] to [[Roman Syria|Syria]], while he remained at [[Lesbos Island|Lesbos]] and governed by proxy.<ref name="Britannica1911"/> He might have been on a secret mission to negotiate with the [[Parthia]]ns about the return of the [[Roman legions|Roman legions']] standards.<ref>David Magie, "The Mission of Agrippa to the Orient in 23 BC", ''Classical Philology'', Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr., 1908), pp. 145–152</ref> On the death of Marcellus, which took place within a year of his exile, he was recalled to Rome by Augustus, who found he could not dispense with his services. If one places the events in the context of the crisis of 23 BC it seems unlikely that, when facing significant opposition and about to make a political climb down, the emperor Augustus would place a man in exile in charge of the largest body of Roman troops. What is far more likely is that Agrippa's 'exile' was actually the careful political positioning of a loyal lieutenant in command of a significant army in case the [[Augustus#Second settlement|settlement plans of 23 BC]] failed and Augustus needed military support.<ref>Syme (1939), 342.</ref>

After 23 BC, as part of what became known as Augustus's ''Second Constitutional Settlement'', Agrippa's constitutional powers were greatly increased to provide the [[Principate|Principate of Augustus]] with greater constitutional stability by providing for a political heir or replacement for Augustus if he were to succumb to his habitual ill health or was assassinated. In the course of the year, [[imperium|proconsular imperium]], similar to Augustus's power, was conferred upon Agrippa for five years. The exact nature of the grant is uncertain but it probably covered Augustus's [[imperial province]]s, east and west, perhaps lacking authority over the provinces of the Senate. That was to come later, as was the jealously guarded ''[[Tribune of the Plebs|tribunicia potestas]]'', or powers of a tribune of the plebeians.<ref>Syme (1939), 337–338.</ref> These great powers of state are not usually heaped upon a former exile. A later source stated that Augustus was advised by his confidant [[Gaius Maecenas|Maecenas]] to attach Agrippa still more closely to him by making him his son-in-law.<ref>Cassius Dio [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54*.html#6 54.6]</ref> In 21 BC, he induced Agrippa to divorce Marcella and marry his daughter, [[Julia the Elder]]—the widow of Marcellus.<ref name=":1">Suetonius, ''The Life of Augustus'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#63 63]; Dio, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54*.html#6.5 6.5]; Reinhold, ''Marcus Agrippa. A biography'', pp. 67–68, 86–87.</ref> In 19 BC, Agrippa was employed in putting down a rising of the [[Cantabri]]ans in [[Hispania]] ([[Cantabrian Wars]]).<ref name="Britannica1911"/>

In 18 BC, Agrippa's powers were even further increased to almost match those of Augustus. That year his proconsular imperium was augmented to cover the [[senatorial province]]s and was granted ''[[Tribune of the Plebs|tribunicia potestas]]'', or powers of a tribune of the plebeians. As was the case with Augustus, Agrippa's grant of tribunician powers was conferred without his having to hold the office.<ref>[[Cassius Dio|Dio]], ''Roman History'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54*.html#12.4 54.12.4].</ref> These powers were considerable, giving him veto power over the acts of the Senate or other magistracies, including those of other tribunes, and the power to present laws for approval by the People. Just as important, a tribune's person was sacred, meaning that any person who harmfully touched them or impeded their actions, including political acts, could lawfully be killed.<ref>Everett (2006), 217.</ref> After the grant of these powers Agrippa was, on paper, almost as powerful as Augustus was; there was no doubt that Augustus was the man in charge.

Agrippa was appointed governor of the eastern provinces a second time in 17 BC, where his just and prudent administration won him the respect and good-will of the provincials, especially from the [[Jews|Jewish]] population.<ref name="Britannica1911"/> Agrippa also restored Roman control over the Cimmerian Chersonnese ([[Crimean Peninsula]]).

=== Death ===
Agrippa's last public service was his beginning of the conquest of the upper [[Danube River]] region, which would become the Roman province of [[Pannonia]] in 13 BC.<ref>Dio, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54*.html#28 28]</ref> He died at [[Campania]] in 12 BC at the age of 50–51. His posthumous son, [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Postumus]], was named in his honor. Augustus honoured his memory by a magnificent funeral and spent over a month in mourning. Augustus oversaw the education of Agrippa's children. Agrippa had built a tomb for himself but Augustus had Agrippa's remains placed in the [[Mausoleum of Augustus]].<ref>Cassius Dio [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/54*.html#28.5 54.28.5]</ref>