Augustus

Question 1

In what year was Augustus born?

Answer 1

63BC

Question 2

In what year was Augustus included in Caesar’s triumphal celebration?

Answer 2

46BC

Question 3

What year was Julius Caesar killed?

Answer 3

44BC

Question 4

Who are the other potential heirs to Caesar?

Answer 4

Caesarion and Marc Antony

Question 5

Who was in the Triumvirate?

Answer 5

Augustus, Marc Antony and Lepidus

Question 6

In what year was Caesar deified?

Answer 6

42BC

Question 7

In 42BC, who was defeated at the Battle of Phillipi, and committed suicide after?

Answer 7

Brutus and Cassius

Question 8

In what year did the Triumvirate end and Augustus read Marc Antony’s will in the Senate?

Answer 8

32BC

Question 9

What battle occurred in 31BC

Answer 9

The Battle of Actium

Question 10

Who committed suicide in 30BC?

Answer 10

Marc Antony and Cleopatra

Question 11

In what year was Augustus granted the name Augustus?

Answer 11

27BC

Question 12

In what year was Augustus given the title ‘pater patriae’?

Answer 12

2BC

Question 13

In what year did Augustus adopt Tiberius?

Answer 13

4AD

Question 14

In what year was Tiberius’ tribune powers renewed for 10 years, and his authority becomes equal to Augustus?

Answer 14

13AD

Question 15

In what year did Augustus and his daughter Julia die?

Answer 15

14AD

Question 16

Where was the Res Gestae displayed?

Answer 16

In front of Augustus’ tomb in Rome.

Question 17

What are the problems with the Res Gestae as a source?

Answer 17

Partial texts: takes Augustus’ viewpoint, omits details, fragmentary condition.

Question 18

In Tacitus’ Annals, what is his opinion of Augustus and the Imperial system?

Answer 18

Hostile and cynical. Augustus buys affection or support. The system has changed - it is Republican in name only.

Question 19

Why does Tacitus begin his account with Tiberius, rather than a full account of Augustus?

Answer 19

It’s the moment where Tiberius inherits all of Augustus’ powers that it changes from Republic to Monarchy.

Question 20

Who is the source of this: “… the whole power of the people and senate passed to Augustus and from this time there existed what was really a monarchy…”

Answer 20

Cassius Dio

Question 21

What do Cicero, Tacitus and Cassius Dio all have in common?

Answer 21

They are all part of the senatorial elite; they have a preconceived notion about how power should be held.

Question 22

How reliable is the Res Gestae as a source for the Augustan period?

Answer 22

Not reliable, outright lies would have been difficult; so he does it by omission - not mentioning his role in the proscriptions and his earlier career where people viewed him negatively. It isn’t objective but we wouldn’t expect it to be.

Question 23

Who is the source of this: “He twice thought of restoring the republic, first immediately after the overthrow of Antony … and again in the weariness of a lingering illness…?”

Answer 23

Suetonius, Augustus 28