Two friends building an Empire

Augustus was the first Roman Emperor, yet his Empire would not have existed if another crucial figure had not stepped up. Augustus' close buddy Marcus Agrippa later became a member of the imperial family. He was a general, admiral, statesman, engineer, and architect, among other things. Most importantly, during the turbulent aftermath of Caesar's assassination, Agrippa was fiercely loyal. In other words, Augustus needed Agrippa to help him construct an empire. Agrippa was crucial in rallying the soldiers to Octavian's cause, and he played a key part in Octavian's victory in the civil war. He also persuaded the Senate to give the imperial title of Augustus to Octavian. The Senate was therefore convinced to give Augustus charge of the frontier provinces and, more significantly, the legions in the area. Marcus Agrippa also directed the emperor's massive construction project, which transformed Rome from a "city of bricks" to a "city of marble."

Agrippa accomplished all of this while avoiding the limelight, power, or fortune. Augustus, predictably, rewarded his friend once he ascended to the throne. After the emperor, Marcus Agrippa rose to become Rome's second most powerful man. Agrippa married Julia, Augustus' only daughter, and he was welcomed into the imperial family. Agrippa's three boys were considered potential heirs because the emperor had no other children, but their early death forced Augustus to rethink his mind. Agrippina, Agrippa's younger daughter, would play a key role in the Julio-Claudian dynasty's establishment, as both her son Caligula and grandson Nero became Roman emperors. Augustus paid Agrippa one final respect after his death by interring his body in his mausoleum.