Friendship and Loyalty

"This was done, not out of any competition or ambition on Agrippa's part to make himself equal to Augustus, but from his heartfelt loyalty to him," wrote Cassius Doi, "and Augustus, so far from censuring him for it, respected him the more." Agrippa was exalted by Augustus in both political and personal spheres. Due to Augustus' ill health, Agrippa was named as his heir from the beginning of his reign. Agrippa, however, was not the best choice for an heir because they were the same age. As a result, Augustus gave Agrippa his daughter Julia's hand in marriage, bringing Agrippa formally into his family. Augustus legally adopted the two boys when the couple had them, preserving his line of succession.

Agrippa received considerable political honors and powers from him in the meantime, making the two of them equal in authority save for seniority. Agrippa never opposed Augustus despite having enormous political clout and the army's support. He showed himself to be a true buddy and remained fiercely loyal. He was referred to as "the noblest of men of his day" by Cassius Doi. Agrippa started to experience pain and disease in his later years, which is now thought to have been gout. Not wanting to be a burden or a source of embarrassment due to an impairment, he carefully kept it from his companion.