Augustus Flashcards
Augustus’ constitutional position and the real basis of his power
he was legally entitled to remain in power. the most important support was still from the armies and the common people. this acceptance came largely because he had put an end to the civil wars. he still aimed to look for a way of securing a more constitutional position that would be generally acceptable to the Romans. he hided his control behind constitutional powers derived from traditional offices. in theory his political system was thus rooted in the old republican institutions.
the settlement of 27 BC: different types of provinces
Octavian laid down his powers and restored government to the senate and the popular assembly. he got the title Augustus and a title of proconsulate in Spain, Gaul and Syria. until 23 BC he was re elected consul yearly.
there were imperial and senatorial/public provinces. the public provinces remained to be governed as before but the differences in the runnings of those different provinces is not that important.
after 23 BC, the emperor had supreme power in both types of provinces.
Egypt as a province
an imperial province but it was considered the emperor’s private domain. it was under stricter control. there were powerful armed force on location. governors were all from the knights social order. senators could not travel there without emperor’s permission. its bureaucratic system was retained.
overall, most differences stemmed from terminology rather than content.
the settlement of 23 BC
as Augustus had occupied one of the consulships he realized that this could cause discontent among the ones who wanted to gain the office. the senate and the popular assembly granted Augustus tribunician power for life. he also acquired supreme control over the governors of the public provinces.
the settlement of 19 BC
he received the most important consular powers for life without having to hols the office.
changes in the administration
Augustus assumed control over jurisdiction in appeal cases, acquired supremacy over foreign politics and public finance. he had control over the provincial governors. tax collectors were kept under surveillance.
people started to come to the emperor for advice, favours in a system of super-patronage.
the emperor used the advice of Consilium Principis (which acquired a lot of executive influence) and specialist notables. first imperial secretaries were established.
the emperor acquired his own financial sector. Augustus also gained more and more control over the public treasury. the funds of imperial provinces were also available to him.
acquired decisive influence over the careers of the senators and knights.
the senate and the popular assembly
popular assemblies’ importance declines substantially. the senate acquired more power. the responsibility of electing magistrates was also transferred to the senate quite early on. the senate was still guided by the emperor in all things.
the higher orders: senators and equites
Augustus fixed property qualifications for admission to the senatorial and equestrian orders. until the 3rd century, senators continued to hold the most important administrative offices. they followed the cursus honorum but new posts emerged between the old ones. most prestigious offices for senators were governorships in Asia and Africa and prefecture of Rome.
knights acquired an important position in administration.many prefectorships became available to them.
the decuriones
the local notables of the Italian communities and Roman cities outside of Italy who constituted a kind of third order. also known as curiales. they avidly supported Augustus.
city of Rome
attracted many immigrants. accomodated Syrians, Jews and Greeks. death rate most likelt exceeded the birth rate.
the city was divided into districts and each one got a leader. in AD 6 night watchmen were established (also acted as firefighters). he also established a police force. urban prefecture became to be a very influential post.
distribution of free wheat was improved, town’s aterworks became better managed.
he restored temples and built new ones.
the army
Augustus had control over the armies. all important military command went to his friends and family. he established a standing army of professional soldiers. created an imperial bodyguard. Augustus fixed good terms of service and made provision for the retirement of the troops.
ideal and religious aspects of emperorship: emperor worship
Augustus wanted to be seen as a father and a benefactor who respected the old state institutions, the citizens’ private rights and the traditional privileges of the higher classes. he propagated his ideal with visual arts, legends and representations on coins, inscription in well-frequented places.
the emperor cult emerged in the eastern provinces as there it had been normal to treat the ruler as a god. it was used extensively in military camps.
latin literature in the Augustan era
the golden age of Latin literature. emperor and his friends gave financial support to poets and prose writers.
some works from this time have continued to influence the works of European literature into our own times.
“Aenid” by Virgil, “Ars poetica” by Horace, history of Rome by Livy. Tacitus was one of the most famous historians.
Augustus’ conquests
northwest of Spain, Alps, Danubian plain.
in 20 BC Augustus diplomatically worked out a modus vivendi with the Parthians over Armenia.
Agrippa, Tiberius, Drusus gained much political and diplomatic power.
when Augustus’ reign ended so did the era of major conquests and the empire entered a new phase. under Augustus Roman imperialism may have been influenced by propagandistic interests.
after Augustus new expansionist campaigns alternated with periods of consolidation.
