Social and political history of Rome: Agrippa in Spain

ABSTRACT This Grade Final Project aims at studying Agrippa’s presence and activities in Hispania. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (63-12 BC), the leading military and political associate of Augustus in the early years of his government, was sent to Hispania to conclude the so-called Cantabrian Wars (between 19 and 18 BC) and, once this territory was pacified, he remained in Hispania for some time (the precise date is unknown, perhaps until 16 or 15 BC). Agrippa’s activity is attested in Augusta Emerita (Mérida), a colony founded by Augustus at the end of the Cantabrian Wars with discharged soldiers (emeriti) of these wars. Agrippa was patron of the city and financed monumental buildings, being the theater the most relevant one as attested by several inscriptions. Agrippa’s patronage is also documented in other cities founded by Augustus, as it is the case of Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza). Coins and other archaeological evidence shows Agrippa’s important role in the economic revitalization of Hispania after the conquest, such as road building and administrative organization. All the sources referring to Agrippa’s presence in Hispania (ancient texts, inscriptions, coins, archaeological evidence) are considered in this study, interpreting them in their historical and historiographical context. As for modern historiography, there are two articles devoted to Agrippa’s presence in Hispania (Roddaz 1993 and Rodá 2005). They both are reviewed here, updating and completing them with new pieces of information provided by new archaeological findings and new interpretations in recent literature. This study is divided into four chapters, as well as an introduction and some conclusions. The first chapter is a brief biography of Agrippa, which serves to contextualize his military and political role and his actions in Hispania. The second one studies analyze Agrippa’s intervention in the Cantabrian Wars. The third examines Agrippa’s presence and work in Augusta Emerita, and the fourth considers his activities in other places, emphasizing that Agrippa’s action in Hispania was not restricted to the Cantabrian territory and to Augusta Emerita as it is often said in modern historiography. Following the conclusions, it is added an index of figures, and ancient and modern and references.Grado en Histori