Robert Harris on Roman Rivalry: Augustus VS Agrippa

Augustus was Rome's first Emperor. But who made his empire possible? Behind the throne stood Marcus Agrippa, the brilliant general whose victories secured the Roman world yet whose name was consciously erased from the record by his erstwhile great friend. In this very special episode Tristan Hughes is joined by bestselling author Robert Harris to uncover the remarkable life of Agrippa. How did a man from relative obscurity become Augustus’s most trusted ally? What role did he play in the victory at Actium and the birth of the Roman Empire? And why did this extraordinary figure disappear from Rome’s public memory? 0:00 Introduction 1:14 Robert Harris on why Marcus Agrippa drew his interest 2:09 Erased from history by Augustus 2:53 The contrast between Augustus and Agrippa 4:15 Portraying the story as a historical novel 6:32 What we know about Agrippa's early background 7:54 Joining Julius Caesar's inner circle 11:07 The turning point after Julius Caesar's assassination 15:12 The initial conflict with Mark Antony 17:46 Navigating the chaotic Roman civil wars 19:12 Agrippa's naval tactics and defeating Sextus Pompey 22:51 Choosing loyalty over a military triumph 26:07 Masterminding the decisive Battle of Actium 30:09 Engineering feats and building the Roman aqueducts 33:46 Constructing the Pantheon and his lasting architectural legacy 36:05 Wealth, status, and imperial marriage alliances 37:32 Agrippa's practical nature versus Roman art and culture 40:32 Power dynamics and succession struggles under Augustus 46:43 The rift over Marcellus and Agrippa's temporary exile 51:40 The death and legacy of Marcus Agrippa Presented by Tristan Hughes. Producers are Joseph Knight & McKenna Fernandez, senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Editor is Natasha. Channel manager is Vilde Øksnes. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™ #HistoryHitPodcast #TheAncients #AncientRome