Augustus' Reign Flashcards
What did Octavian establish instead of a Republic?
A Principate
What were Octavian’s unconstitutional powers he had from the Senate?
-Granted a senate position and consulship too young
-Commanded armies before holding public office
-Suspended courts and free elections
-Allowed to be a triumvir
What was Octavian elected as in 28 BC?
‘Princeps Senatus’
What did getting elected as ‘Princeps Senatus’ mean for Octavian?
‘The First amongst the Senate’
-Spoke first in discussions, decided when to summon and dismiss meetings and set its agenda.
What was the First Settlement and when was it?
27 BC: Octavian relinquishing all unconstitutional powers
What military honour did the Senate bestow on Octavian?
The civic crown- usually given to a Roman who has saved the lives of citizens
Where did the Senate let Octavian have control of?
Spain, Gaul, Egypt and Syria- meaning he had control of the grain supply.
What are the four cardinal virtues engraved on the Clipeus Virtutius?
Virtus
Clementia
Iustita
Pietas
What does Virtus mean?
Masculine virtue, e.g: courage, strength and general excellence
What is Clementia?
Clemency or mercy
What is iustitia?
Justice in regard to laws/courts
What does ‘pietas’ mean?
Duty to the family, to the state and gods
What is the Clipeus Virtutius?
A Senate commissioned a golden shield for Octavian
Engraving on the Clipeus Virtutius?
The Senate and the people of Rome dedicate this shield of virtue to Divi Filius, Augustus, consul for the 8th time, for his clemency, justicia and pietas.
When did Octavian become Augustus?
27 BC
Meaning behind ‘Augustus’?
Means ‘the revered one’.
Derives from the Latin ‘Augere’ which means ‘enrich’ or ‘to praise’.
Emphasised his religious duty.
SOURCE: 12 BC Religious sacrificial coin:
What were the implements on the reverse?
Tripod
Simpulum
Patera
Lituus
SOURCE: 12 BC Religious sacrificial coin: which implement is the simpulum?
Top left, the ladle
SOURCE: 12 BC Religious sacrificial coin: which implement is the lituus?
Top right, a curved staff
SOURCE: 12 BC Religious sacrificial coin: which implement is the tripod?
Bottom left, three legged religious furniture
SOURCE: 12 BC Religious sacrificial coin: which implement is the patera?
Bottom right, shallow round plate
What was the name of the town Octavian built in Greece?
Nikopolis
Why was Nikopolis built?
The victory of the Battle of Actium: Nike- Goddess of Victory
How did Augustus cultivate his image of a religious leader?
-Member of almost every priestly college
-Revived many colleges and priesthoods
-Reformed religious festivals
What did Augustus want to promote?
Marriage, having children, introducing conservative ideals and values
Name a festival Augustus reformed?
Lupercalia
What was Lupercalia?
Festival of fertility and health
Goats and dogs would be sacrificed and people were whipped with animal hide by the Luperci priests in an attempt to cleanse the body.
How many pontifical priestly colleges were there in Rome?
27
How many chief priestly colleges were there and what were they?
4
-The Pontifius
-The Augres
-The Epulones
-The Quindecimvirir
Name 2 priestly colleges Augustus reinstated?
Arval Berethren
Flamen Dialis
What were the Vestal Virgins?
6 priestess of Vesta who kept the sacred Roman hearth burning 24/7
—-> Augustus promoted their presence and reputation, restoring their privileges, e.g
:emancipated from father’s rule and allowed to own property
When was the Lex Julia put in place?
18 BC
What was the Lex Julia?
The Julian Marriage Laws
What did controlling the punishments for households position Augustus as?
Each Roman household’s Paterfamiliae
Examples of Laws from the Lex Julia?
-Law of the 3 sons: rewards for families
-Taxing unmarried women
-Set laws Roman age to marry at 10
-Women had six months to re-marry after divorce and a year after a death
What is Auctoritas?
Power through reputation
What is Potestas?
Power gained through titles
