Augustus vs Agrippa with Robert Harris
Summary
Host Tristan Hughes interviews author Robert Harris about his novel *Agrippa*, which restores the legacy of Marcus Agrippa, the brilliant general and engineer overshadowed by Augustus. They discuss Agrippa’s pivotal military victories, his architectural innovations like the Pantheon, and his complex political relationship with the emperor. The episode explores how Agrippa served as the indispensable "brawn" to Augustus’s "brains" while remaining largely erased from historical records.
Topics discussed
Intro, ads, and guest Robert Harris introduction
Agrippa's overlooked legacy and relationship with Augustus
Early lives, backgrounds, and meeting Julius Caesar
Battle of Munda, Caesar's assassination, and return to Rome
Civil wars, Philippi, and Agrippa's military rise
Building the navy, defeating Sextus Pompey, and Portus Julius
Ads for Granola, Kleenex, LegalShield, and Echoes of History
Agrippa's modesty, lack of triumphs, and erased credit
The Battle of Actium and Agrippa's naval tactics
Post-war logistics, aqueducts, and the Pantheon
Marriages, family politics, and relationships with Livia and Maecenas
Ads for Kleenex and Echoes of History
Succession planning and Agrippa as heir to Augustus
Tensions with Tiberius, Marcellus's death, and Livia's suspicion
Adopted sons, Agrippa's death, and final honors
Conclusion, public works legacy, and outro ads
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