AGRIPPA, HEROD, was the son of Aristobulus and Berenice,* and grandson of Herod the great. He was born about seven years before the Christian era. After the death of his father, Herod directed his education, and sent him to Rome. He was favourably received by Tiberius, and placed about the person of his son Drusus; but, after the death of that prince, all who had been his companions were commanded by the emperor to leave Rome, lest their presence should recal the remembrance of his son, and renew his affliction for his loss. Agrippa had lived very profusely, and when he left Rome, was burdened with debts. As he was therefore unable to appear at Jerusalem, in a manner suited to his rank, he retired to the castle of Massada, and lived there in a very private manner. Herod Antipas, his uncle, as sisted him with great generosity ; appointed loin chief magistrate of Tiberias, and presented him with consider able sums of money. His extravagance, however, was so excessive, that at length Herod found it necessary to hint to him the impropriety of his conduct. This re monstrance so much offended Agrippa, that he resolved to leave Judea; and, having borrowed money, through the influence of his wife Cypros, and his freedman Maryas, he set out for Rome, A. D. 35. He was per mitted to join Tiberius at Caprea, and received an apart ment in his palace. He was afterwards directed by the emperor to attend Tiberius Nero, the son of Drusus ; but he chose rather to attach himself to Caius Caligula, the son of Germanicus. As he was conversing on one occasion with this prince, he expressed a wish for the death of Tiberius, and for the elevation of his friend to the throne. Having been overheard, and accused to the emperor, by one of his own slaves, whom he had made free, he was thrown into prison, and loaded with fetters ; but, Tiberius dying soon after, Caligula, who succeeded him, changed the iron chain of Agrippa into one of gold of the saute weight ; placed a diadem on his head ; gave him the title of king ; and bestowed upon him the greater part of Judea as his dominions.
His sister Herodias, who was married to his uncle Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, being very de sirous that her husband also should have the title of king, induced him to go to Rome, in order to obtain it from Caligula. But, while he was receiving audience
of the emperor, Fortunatus, the freedman of Agrippa, presented letters from his master, accusing Herod of having formerly held a secret correspondence with Se janus ; of being in treaty with Artabanus, king of Par thia ; and of having already collected arms for 70,000 troops. Herod was immediately banished into Gaul, and his tetrarchy given to Agrippa. A short time af ter this, Agrippa went again to Rome, and prevailed with the emperor to abandon his purpose of compelling the Jews to honour him with a statue, and to worship him as a divinity in their temple. While he was still at Rome, Caligula was cut off by a conspiracy ; and he assisted greatly to advance Claudius to the empire. For this service, he received farther additions to his dominions, and returned to Judea, in possession of terri tories as extensive as those of his grandfather Herod. He had influence also with Claudius to procure the kingdom of Chalcis for his brother Herod. In order to please the Jews (who seem to have been satisfied with his government,) he persecuted the Christians ; put to death James, the brother of John the Evangelist, and imprisoned the Apostle Peter, Acts xii. 1, 2, 3. Soon after this, he went to Cxsarea, and there instituted games in honour of the emperor Claudius. At the same time there came to him ambassadors from Tyre and Sidon, to sue for peace. He gave them audience in the theatre, early in the morning, and appeared in great magnificence. When he spoke, his flatterers ex claimed, that it was the voice of a god and not of a man. They were joined by the multitude in these im pious acclamations, and were encouraged in their blas phemy by the gracious manner in which it was received by Agrippa. He was instantly seized with violent pains in his bowels, and carried back to his palace. His body began to be devoured by worms ; and, after suffering extreme agony for the space of five days, he died about the year 44, leaving a son named Agrippa, and three daughters, Berenice, Mariamne, and Drusilla. Joseph.
lib. xviii. c. 7, Sze. lib. xis. c. 3. &c. (q)