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Why was Tiberius forced to divorce Vipsania Agrippina?
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Tiberius was forced to divorce his wife, Vipsania Agrippina, in 12 BCE due to the political machinations of the emperor Augustus.1
Following the death of Marcus Agrippaâwho was both Vipsaniaâs father and Augustusâs son-in-lawâAugustus sought to secure a new husband for his daughter, Julia, who had been widowed for the second time. Augustus chose Tiberius for this union to ensure Julia was suitably remarried. Although Tiberius and Vipsania shared a genuine, loving marriage, Tiberius was expected to be obedient to the emperorâs will. Consequently, he was compelled to divorce Vipsania and marry Julia, a decision that caused him significant personal sorrow.1