Final: Terms Flashcards
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius - Caesar’s lieutenant and later co-consul
gains power after Caesar’s assassination and must balance: tolerance for “Liberators” who killed Caesar, while still enjoying Caesar’s old popular and military support
eventually caused “the Liberators” to flee
Octavian comes to present a greater obstacle than expected
has an affair with Cleopatra, marries Octavia
Rise of Octavian
Octavian forms an armed coalition against Mark Antony
Cicero supports Octavian
instead of war, in Nov 43 they try a second triumvirate - Antony, Octavian, M. Lepidus each given consular power for 5 years
Cicero and Antony
Cicero felt that Antony should have been killed with Caesar
began giving speeches urging Senate to declare Antony a public enemy
2nd Philippic: not delivered, distributed as a pamphlet
Second Triumvirate
Mark Antony, Octavian, M. Lepidus - 43 BCE
each received consular powers for 5 years
the aim was to avenge Caesar: led an army against Brutus and Cassius, who eventually committed suicide
Proscription
brought back by Mark Antony
a decree of condemnation to death or banishment
used against Cicero
Fall of Mark Antony
both sides (Octavian and Mark Antony) were conducting a propaganda war - Antony made out to be luxuriant non-Roman with ambitions of monarchy, while Octavian pitched himself as a proponent of cultural renewal
Antony + Cleopatra meet Octavian’s fleet in 31 BCE, flee and eventually commit suicide
Egypt added to Rome’s provinces
first time - no battle for control over Rome
Caesar Augustus
Octavian becomes most powerful figure in the Mediterranean World (“August” after 27 BCE)
huge cultural changes, seen as a return to Roman tradition
The Rule of Augustus
after Battle of Actium (where Antony was defeated) - becomes de facto military commander, senatorial aristocracy is pretty much gone
Augustus did not intend to give up his primacy, probably viewed rule by one man as the alternative to civil war
nature of rule not fully formed from the beginning - remembers Caesar’s end
The Rule of Augustus Pt. 2
through trial and error: finds ways to be a king w/o being a king
wants to be seen as a benevolent protector after having been a brutal partisan/proscriber
held consulship every year 31-23
29: returned to Rome, celebrated triumph, beautified city and restored temples, “restores” old stores and the people grant him honors and the title Augustus
Res Gestae Divi Augusti
“achievements of the deified Augustus”
composition of Augustus himself
inscribes on a massive mausoleum
Augustus’ testament to: how he wants himself to be viewed during his lifetime, and how he wants posterity to see him
Organization of the Empire (Augustus)
provinces had money and armies
Augustus was often away from Rome from 27-7 BCE
ruled provinces with significant military presence indirectly through “legates” who reported to him
expansion was valued for 2 reasons: 1) military glory that legitimized his rule, 2) taxes paid by provinces went to pay armies on which his power rested
Ordering of the City (Augustus)
major program of building and restoration: -indicated Augustus's religious piety -signaled continuity with Republic -indicated that civil war was over -massive development of Campus Martius appeal to urban population: -provision of money, food, entertainment -from 23 BCE, honored every year with tribunicia potestas
Tribunicia Potestas
used to honor Augustus every year from 23 BCE
effect of his efforts to appeal to urban populations
put him in popularis tradition
counted his “rule” by grants of this honor
Religion and Morality (Augustus)
one strain of thought regarded civil war as consequence of gods’ anger at Roman immorality
Augustus presents himself as reviver of Roman religion and morality - rebuilds temples, gains title of pontifex maximus
cult of Divine Julius
Cult of Divine Julius
gens Julia already claimed descent from Venus
comet in 44 BCE at funeral games for Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar posthumously declared by Senate to have been a god - massive break in Roman tradition
Temple of Divine Julius begun by Octavian 42 BCE, completed 29 BCE
