Julio-Claudian Emperors Flashcards
What powers did Augustus have
According to res gestae, after he had thought to be dying (and handing will to prison and ring o Agrippa)
•tribunicia potestas for life, including power to veto any legislation
•proconsular imperium across the whole empire
•legum et morum
•sole imperium in Rome
•pontifrax maximum leader of religion
•credit for all military victories
Titles: pater patriae, princepts, Caesar son of god, Augustus
What is the name given to the period of Augustan peace
Pax Romana or Pax Augusta
What did the battle of action accomplish
Defeat of Antony and cleopatra as well as annexation and addition of Egypt to the empire. Included in triple triumph
What was the significance of the 1st and second constitutional settlements
Augustus gave up his emergency powers after actium but was given proconsular imperium. The 2nd was due to Marcellus adoption and scandal
What was the senatorial result of Augustus’ growing imperium
Consuls lost significance, elections pointless. Quaestor still used.
What were the three territories in the triple triumph
Egypt, Daltmatia, Alexandria
Discuss the significance of Livia, Augustus’ third wife
Mother of Tiberius and drusus. Apparently was ambitious and paved the way for Tiberius’ succession, suspected of offing Marcellus, Gaius and Lucius as well as being responsible for the exile of Agrippa posthumous, according to Tacitus + Dio. Suspected of killing Augustus too.
What prepared Tiberius for succession?
Given tribunicia power according to res gestae. Forced to marry Julia. General who resolved issues in Pannonia and Germania after lollius’ failure. Made consul. Adopted by Augustus and forced to adopt germanicus.
How did Augustus feign republicanism.
Refused dictator title, refused worship of himself. Made allies of republicans such as piso. Loudly declared support for old constitution.
Discuss Augustus and morals
Attempted to ban corruption, limit on expenditure, punishment of adulterers, encouragement of marriage and procreation. According to Suetonius
Discuss Augustus and religion
Took on roles of pontifrax maximums, increased privileges of vestal virgins, built mars ultor. He was seen as a divine god. Allowed worship of his numen and house
Discuss Augustus’ building programme.
Found of brick left in marble. Built temple of Apollo, restored senate house, theatre of Pompey according to r.g. Mars ultor. Aqueducts eg aqua Virgo and aqua Julia.according to Pliny
Discuss opposition to Augustus
Cassius, Brutus, Cicero, according to Suetonius. Claimed he ruled by universal consent. Mark Antony.
Discuss the poets in relation to Augustus.
Virgil, Horace and Ovid. Mostly patrons of marcenus, except Ovid. Virgil and Horace pro-Augustan propagandists. Ovid critical, exiled.
Germanicus in reign of Tiberius.
Popular. Some in Pannonia wanted to declare him emperor over Tiberius but he refused according to Tacitus. Resolved issues in Germany and teutoburg forest. Established new client king in Armenia, relieved food shortage in Egypt. Died believing he had been poisoned by piso.
Sejanus in Tiberius
Son of equestrian, ambitious. Praefect of praetorian guard. Seduced drusus’ wife Livilla, who she poisoned. Considered becoming emperor by marrying Livia. Persuaded Tiberius to retire according to dio, and effectively ruled Rome. Later accused by Antonia and arrested and killed.
Mutinies and revolts in Tiberius.
Pannonia, Germany, frisii, Gaul, Africa
Trials during Tiberius
Began well, even according to Tacitus. Expanded the definition of majestas(treason). E.g priscos. Sejanus, aggrippina + drusus accused of treason. Suetonius and Tacitus call Tiberius a cruel and indiscriminate murderer.
Tiberius and religion
Encouraged cult of Augustus. Has little interest in portraying himself or family as divine, and little interest in religious propaganda.
Tiberius and the senate
Senate approved Tiberius, he despised sycophancy according to Tacitus. His support for equestrian class irritated them.
Tiberius and building
Did not match Augustus but still built an estate on Capri and temple to divi Augustus, according to velleius
Tiberius and succession
Tiberius reflected badly by historians, except velleius. Succeeded by Gaius (Caligula), germanicus’ son by aggrippina.
Caligula’s succession.
Popular as the son of germanicus and aggrippina, granted full power by senate. Set aside Tiberius’ will that he do rule with gemellus. Popularity based on birth, nothing else.
Honoured his grandmother and sister with deifications, according to dio. Guided by macro and Claudius and silanus initially
Caligula and religion
Claimed he was divine. Believed in gods and dresses as Apollo and Venus, amongst others, according to dio. Protected Jews in Judaea and executed flaccus
Caligula and madness
Dressed as gods, cruel, relationships with men and women. Encouraged by sycophants. Considered making horse a senator. Killed gemellus, and silanus and macro were forced to commit suicide. Josephus, Suetonius, dio and Tacitus all agree he is insane.
Caligula’s administrative reform
Bankrupt by the end of his reign, according to Suetonius. Favoured client kings. Financial advisor callistus was influential
Caligula and the senate, equestrians and people
Attempted to retain popularity. Mixed with actors and generous gifts in games. Attempted to reintroduce popular elections according to dio, though Suetonius claims this didn’t catch on. His popularity faded with his treatment of the senate. He wished they had only one neck. Lost support when he raised taxes.
Caligula’s assassination
Led by callistus, Cherea, sebinus. Cherea stabbed him, according to dio. His baby and wife were killed also.
Claudius’ succession
Whilst the senate was debating restoring the republic, the praetorian guard decided on Claudius. Had no real potestas. Executed charea but spared many others. Had support of equestrians and praetorians but not senate necessarily, according to dio and Suetonius.
Claudius and government
Favoured Augustan method of slow imperial control. Treated senate with respect, offered special seats in theatre. Created new imperial roles but did not disregard senate, even returning some imperial provinces to senate eg Macedonia, according to Tacitus. Concerned with events in provinces; dealt with Jewish issues in Alexandria
Claudius and Britain /etc
Difficulty in Africa and Parthia. Continued to rely on client kings. Saw Britain as opportunity to expand empire. Campaign was success and a triumph was held according to Suetonius. Pomerium, boundary of Rome, extended.
Claudius and Nero, brittanicus, wives and freedmen.
Tacitus and Suetonius believe he was dominated by wives and freedmen. His freedmen Pallas and narcissus were very wealthy and influential. Third wife messalina bore him britannicus, was a adulterer and encouraged claudius’ paranoia, cruel. Ousted by Claudius on advice of narcissus. Claudius then married caligula’s sister aggrippina the younger, mother of Nero. Nero’s path to succession was smoothed by aggrippina. She recalled Seneca and installed Burrus as praetorian. Narcissus was loyal to britannicus whilst Pallas supported Nero.
Claudius and the senate, equestrians and people.
Preferred Augustan model, treated senate with respect. Revived role of censor which caused tension. Equalled equestrian roles to senatorial roles in value. Provided games for the people. Attempted to alleviate hunger and shortage of water by draining fucine lake and building aqueducts (2) according to Pliny. Reasonably popular.
Claudius’ death
Suetonius claims at the hands of aggrippina the younger and mushrooms. Nero hailed as new emperor
Legacy of Nero
Completed decline of Julio Claudians. Responsible for deaths of all his family members. Derided by Jewish and Christian historians, whom were badly treated under his rule.
Nero’s succession
Praetorians under burrus paved way. Senate in accordance due to Nero (Seneca’s) charm. Aggrippina was main influence, as evident in aureus ad 54, though her influence faltered early. Her main supporter Pallas was also removed. The first five years of Nero’s reign superseded any other, according to Trajan (quinquennium Neronis). Promised end to corruption and was humble according to Suetonius. After aggrippina was removed, burrus and Seneca had main influence.
Nero’s wife and agrippina’s death
Nero married poppaea and ordered death of his mother, according to Tacitus. Burrus later died and Seneca retired.
Corbulo in Armenia
Nero organised military intervention in Parthia under general corbulo. It was a humiliation for Nero which resulted in Parthia being able to dictate terms and capture Armenia. Corbulo committed suicide.
Boudicca’s revolt
Revolted after ill treatment but was defeated by Suetonius’ forces.
Great fire of Rome
Fire burned for nearly a week and rumour was that Nero caused it. To distract he needed a scapegoat and chose the Christians. Took opportunity to rebuild, including new mansion
Piso conspiracy
Nero was killing off any potential threat. Piso led the conspiracy and Seneca was forced to commit suicide. Kicked poppaea to death.
Nero and religion
Did not particularly care for Jews or Christians. Thought of himself as a divine god.
Nero and administration
Often say in court. Struggled with finance, ignored in his building the domus aurea. Corruption rife in provinces.
Nero and the senate, equestrians and people
Removed claudius’ freedmen, replaces with own. Challenged status of freedmen, enhanced position of equestrian. Domus Aurea provides public space for people. Funded games and circuses but popularity is unknown due to historians working under Flavians. Was a musician
Vindex and Galba
Vindex fought for republic of Rome, was anti-Nero. Vindex in contact with Galba, who likely wanted imperial throne. His delay on either side caused Nero to act, confiscating galba’s land. Vindex voices support for Galba. Attempt fails but Galba declares emperor by senate after Nero’s death.
Nero’s death
There was panic in Rome and the provinces and Nero had no support. He fled to the city where he committed suicide, according to Suetonius and dio.
Res gestae as a source
First hand, primary.
Subjective, embellished
Dio as a source
Senator, access to archives. Most objective, farthest away from source material.
Means basis will be on other historians.
Josephus as source
Jewish of Judaea, critical of Julio claudians. Under Flavians
Suetonius as a source
During Flavians. Access to people alive during Julio claudians. Rumour mongerer. Imperial secretary, access to all imperial files.
Tacitus as a source
Flavians period. Critical of Julio claudians
Velleius as a source
Owed career to Augustus and Tiberius.
Virgil and Horace as sources
Patrons of maesenus. Fiction, propaganda, romanticised.
