Administration of the Provinces

Question 1

Who were the governors of provinces? Who helped with finances? Who were assistants?

Answer 1

consuls and praetors (became proconsuls and propraetors if term was extended beyond 1 year)

Quaestor

Legati

Question 1

What was a province? Examples?

Answer 1

a territory administered by Rome

Africa, Hispania, Baetica, Macedonia, Asia, Cilicia

Question 2

Why did people want to become governors? How did they become governors? What did they do after this?

Answer 2

climb cursus honorum

bribe people to get elected

governors tried to get their money back through the provinces – corruption and embezzlement

Question 3

What did governors usually have?

Answer 3

at least one legion – responsible for paying troops and maintaining popularity

Question 4

What were the provinces called that Augustus was given after he laid down his powers? What were the other provinces called? What power did Augustus get that interfered with this?

Answer 4

Imperial Provinces
– included new provinces he conquered

Senatorial provinces?

Imperium Maius

Question 5

What were the two types of governors? How were they different?

Answer 5

legati Augusti pro praetore
- chosen by Augustus and held imperium

praefecti Augusti
- equestrians appointed by Augustus to certain provinces

Question 6

Who managed the finances of imperial provinces? Why?

Answer 6

Procurators – usually equestrians or freedmen
Would be thankful to Augustus for giving them freedom/work, and would be loyal – not high up enough to rebel

Question 7

Why did Augustus choose control over the provinces that he did?

Answer 7

They were provinces on the borders, so there was a greater risk of them being recaptured and Augustus could also expand on the outskirts.

Question 8

What does Suetonius tell us about Augustus in wars?

Answer 8

• Lists many places he subdues
• “never made war on any nation without just and due cause”
• didn’t wage war to increase dominion or to get military glory
• forced enemies to swear peace in temple of Mars Ultor
• closed the temple of Janus Quirinus 3 times
• 2 ovations
• 3 triumphs
• 2 severe defeats
• promised great games to Jupiter Optimus Maximus

Question 9

What does the Res Gestae tell us about Augustus in wars?

Answer 9

• pirates
• voluntary oath of allegiance from Italy
• extended boundaries of border provinces
• made peace in other provinces
• went to places no Roman had been before
• added Egypt to the empire
• settled soldiers in provinces
• recovered military standards and put them in the temple of Mars Ultor