ed extensively in rhetoric and philosophy. Agrippina had ulterior motives for choosing Seneca as Nero’s tutor. Seneca was stodgily conservative and republican. He was a paragon of all the ancient Roman virtues. Agrippina knew the Senate would smile upon this and it would later benefit Nero. Franzero attributes much of Nero’s early success obtaining the throne to his mother. Agrippina was a very beautiful, ruthless, and deceitfully clever woman. She had the unique ability of positioning herself well, regardless of the situation. Three of Agrippina’s two husbands died as a result of being poisoned. During her pregnancy with Nero, Agrippina visited a Persian Magician that foretold her horoscope. “You will give birth to a son, who shall be Emperor, but will assassinate his mother.” Agrippina replied: “Let him murder his mother but be Emperor!” —Necet me dum reget! She was dedicated to seeing her son become one of Rome’s most prominent politicians. She wouldn’t allow anyone to stand in the way of his progress. Her desire to thrust her son into the leading role of emperor was the one overriding factor that would encompass the lion share of her life. This ambition would succeed and, ironically enough, would inevitably lead to her undoing. The Emperor Claudius was Agrippina’s uncle and would inevitably become her third husband. She knew the only way to ensure the throne for her son was through Claudius. Claudius was an avid womanizer. Agrippina knew the only way to seize Claudius’ husbandry was by optimizing and exploiting her beauty and seduction. She knew Claudius was very amorous. Agrippina’s sexuality and charm enchanted Claudius. She later convinced Claudius that she loved him. The marriage of closely related family members would surly constitute scandal and humiliation for the Emperor since both Divine and Roman laws forbade the marriage o...
