you were robbed of through the treacherous death of Piso. Therefore, whoever hears my voice, use
yours to claim this equitable vengeance. Echo the names of Julius Caesar,
Antony, Marcellus, and Octavius everywhere to get what you demand. Speak of tombs, urns, and
ashes to elicit compassion, even in the harshest hearts. Even add some
threats to prayers if they are ineffective, and neglect nothing that can lead to the undoing of
Piso, the comfort of Agrippina, and the revenge for Germanicus.
Effect of this speech
This speech had a beneficial impact: the Senate and the Roman people were deeply
moved. Tears were shed, lamentations expressed, and grief seized everyone. It seemed as if all the glory of Rome was about to rest in the tomb beside the
ashes of Germanicus. Each person saluted Agrippina as the honor of the homeland, the last link
to the lineage of Octavian, the ultimate example of ancient Roman valor. Prayers arose for the gods to preserve her line and make it flourish, even after the total downfall of the
guilty ones. In the end, the public's fervor towards Germanicus and Agrippina became so intense that Tiberius found himself compelled to deliver Piso to justice. However, Piso wisely chose to
stab himself in the throat, resulting in his instant death.
Notes
Agrippina the Elder, born on October 23, 14 BC in Athens and died on October 18, 33 AD.
in Pandataria in Italy, is a prominent member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She is the
granddaughter of Octavian, the mother of Caligula, and the grandmother of Nero. She marries her cousin
Germanicus, and travels with him throughout his military career. Upon his death, she
claims that he was murdered to remove him from the line of succession for the Empire, which earns the wrath of the magistrates and Emperor Tiberius, who exiles her.
Germanicus, prince from the Julio-Claudian imperial family, is one of the most popular military leaders and possibly the most gifted in all of Roman history.
The name Germanicus is given to him in honor of his many conquests and victories in
Germania, a region in central Europe. He is the father of Emperor Caligula and of Agrippina the
Younger. His death is controversial: he falls seriously ill during a campaign; on his deathbed, he voices his suspicions about being poisoned. He is the ancestor of Octavian through his
father and of Mark Antony through his mother. One of his known military feats was his refusal to have the legionnaires name him emperor in place of Tiberius. To stop the rebellion, he allegedly
threatened to commit suicide.
Tiberius, born in Rome on November 16, 42 BC and died in Misenum in the province of
Naples on March 16, 37 AD, is the second Roman emperor from 14 to 37 AD. He belongs to the dynastic
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