ABSTRACT
Legislation and publicity in Agrippa’s favour proved in vain. He was in Campania after a short autumn foray in the Balkans, when he died in mid-March 12 BC.1 From the military point of view alone the death of Augustus’ greatest marshal was momentous. Who would fill that place? There was need of Nero Drusus in Gaul, and indeed it was in the same year that the offensive on Germany was launched. Tiberius was the obvious choice for Agrippa’s place in the Balkans, and they were to be his field of operations as Augustus’ legate for the whole or part of the next four seasons, beginning with a ‘bellum Pannonicum’ against the Dalmatae and Breuci, between Sirmium and Siscia.2 Tiberius was assuming the mantle that had been worn by the greatest general of his age.
