Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa won Augustus's wars and built much of imperial Rome. Born around 63 BC to an obscure family of no distinction, he was a schoolfellow of the young Octavian and was with him at Apollonia when Caesar was murdered, urging him to go to Rome and claim the inheritance. He was the military talent of the partnership. He defeated Sextus Pompey at Naulochus in 36 BC, having first dug an artificial harbour at Lake Avernus to train crews and introduced the harpax, a grappling device fired from a catapult that let Roman ships board rather than manoeuvre. At Actium in 31 BC he commanded the fleet and effectively won the battle, cutting Antony's supply lines beforehand. He then campaigned in Gaul, Spain and the Balkans and settled the eastern provinces. As aedile in 33 BC he spent his own money overhauling the city's water supply and sewers, and is said to have been rowed through the Cloaca Maxima to inspect it. He built the Aqua Julia and Aqua Virgo, public baths, and the original Pantheon, whose inscription Hadrian preserved on the rebuilt structure. He commissioned a map of the known world displayed in a portico. He was scrupulously loyal and never used his standing against Augustus, which is the whole reason the arrangement worked. He was made co-regent in effect, holding tribunician power and imperium. He married Augustus's daughter Julia in 21 BC, and their sons were adopted as heirs. He died in 12 BC, and Augustus outlived every intended successor he had.

• Lived: 63 BCE – 12 BCE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: admiral, general, statesman