15. Augustus and the Creation of the Principate

Question 1

Senatorial provinces

Answer 1

administered by governors chosen by the Senate with few troops stationed.

Question 2

Imperial provinces

Answer 2

Octavian nominated governors. Most legions stationed

Question 3

What special commission did the Senate give Octavian?

Answer 3

Proconsul over certain provinces. This increased Octavian’s legal authority, but let him keep military power!

Question 4

Significance of the “Tribunica Potestas”

Answer 4

Not a tribune of the plebs, but held all their power, applicable to the ENTIRE empire!

Question 5

Three Pillars of the New Regime:

Answer 5

Tribunica Potestas, Proconsular Imperium, Auctoritas

Question 6

Positions held by Augustus:

Answer 6

Porconsular Imperium, Tribunica Potestas, Auctoritas, Pontifex Maximus, Pater Patriae

Question 7

What did Aug. do with the Republic’s institutions?

Answer 7

Allowed them to continue functioning normally, with the occasional intervention

Question 8

Change to the senate?

Answer 8

Creation of the Senatorial Order: fixed the property qualification. Sons of senators had to have lots of money in order to seek quaetorship (to avoid corruption). NUMBERS REDUCED TO 600

Question 9

Changes to Comitia?

Answer 9

Regular elections for magistracies restored, under the emperor’s controll.

Question 10

Way magistracies chosen: (2)

Answer 10

1) imperial nomination (acceptance by person in charge of election w/ wishes of emperor taken into account)
2) imperial commendatio (recommendation of candidates by emperor himself

Question 11

How did Aug. curtail the power of the popular assemblies?

Answer 11

Took control of the elections!

Question 12

Changes to the equestrian order

Answer 12

No legal heredity! Geographic/social origins not as important

Question 13

Result of the changes to the equestrian order:

Answer 13

became active supporters of Augustus, and a pool of potential administrators!