Roman commander one holding tight, we hear? (7)

I believe the answer is:

agrippa

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'roman' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Powerful Roman' mean 'agrippa' so perhaps 'roman' could also mean 'agrippa')

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for agrippa that I've seen before include "Marcus -, Roman fleet commander who defeated Cleopatra at Actium" , "Old general" , "General who beat Mark Antony at Actium" , "one of the Herods" , "General advisor for emperor" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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