Agrippina was an enigmatic woman who held a considerable degree of influence over two emperors in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Women had an inferior role in society therefore Agrippina used her position and connections with the Emperor in order to exert her power through them. Agrippina herself was devoid of official power as women legitimately were unable to obtain any status of importance.

The emperor Claudius was the uncle of Agrippina, the brother of Germanicus. After being recalled from exile under her brother Gaius, Agrippina enlisted the support of Pallas, one of Claudius' freedmen in order for Claudius to choose her as his wife as she realised in order for her to achieve her political goals and establish her son, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus as the next in line for the throne, a stronger relationship needed to be forged with the emperor. Agrippina eventually persuaded Claudius to adopt her son...