Military Policy of Augustus Flashcards
What was the frontier policy in the Republic? (2)
- There was no clear, cohesive frontier policy
- The direction of Rome’s expansion had been unsystematic and random, depending largely on where wars had to be fought
What was the organisation of the army in the Republic? (3)
- Rome’s legions had not been organised in such a way as to defend Rome’s borders, since organisation of deployment largely fell to provincial governors or the generals themselves
- Troops had often been pulled away from vulnerable frontiers to fight the internal civil wars of the late Republic
- As a result, Rome’s frontiers were often vastly undermanned and poorly defended
What was the Pax Romana? How did it help legitimise Augustus?
- An unprecedented era of peace and harmony achieved through military supremacy which lasted for over 200 years
- It helped to legitimise his rule as it was such a vast achievement
What were the problems that Augustus faced regarding the frontier? (3)
- No real standing army to man the vast frontier regions of the empire
- Civil wars meant that Rome’s enemies had strengthened themselves unchallenged
- Provincials had become more likely to rebel as attention turned away from managing the provinces
What were the solutions to Augustus’ problems regarding the frontier? (3)
- Consolidating what Rome already ruled
- Ending the unsystematic expansion that had characterised Rome’s frontier policy in the Republic
- Pursuing clearly defined and defensible boundaries, preferably natural barriers
Why did Augustus adopt a general policy of non-aggression in the East?
- The powerful kingdom of Parthia was a major threat to eastern Roman territories
Why was there a need to regain Roman prestige in the east?
- Two military disasters in the late Republic under Crassus (53 BC) and Mark Antony (40-33 BC) had lost Roman military prestige in the region
Many expected military expeditions to regain prestige. What approach did Augustus adopt?
- Far more prudent approach, favouring diplomacy over war
Why did Augustus establish ‘client kingdoms’?
- To act as a buffer zone between Rome and Parthia
Give an example of a puppet king. Who installed him?
- Tigranes in Armenia
- Installed by Augustus through Tiberius
What were the legionary standards? Why were they such a big deal?
- Eagles that were the sacred symbol of the legions
- Losing these to the enemy was considered the greatest of military disgraces
How did Augustus get the standards back?
- he negotiated their return in 20 BC
How were the legionary standards lost?
- Crassus lost them to Parthia at the battle of Carrhae
Did the return of the standards bring prestige?
- Absolutely, and became of great propagandistic value
What does the Res Gestae say about Augustus recovering the standards? (quote)
- “I compelled them to return the spoils”
What does Horace say about the recovery of the standards in his poetry? (Quote)
- “Your time, Caesar, has restored rich harvests/ to the fields and to Jupiter the standards/ stripped from the Parthian’s insolent porches”
What frontiers were of the most concern to Augustus?
- The northern frontiers
Why were the northern frontiers of the most concern to Augustus?
- Germanic and other ‘barbarian’ tribes threatened Gaul and Italy
What was Augustus’ solution to the problem of the northern frontiers?
- To use the great rivers of Europe (the Rhine, Danube and Elbe) to provide an easy to defend, natural barrier to these threats
What did Drusus and Tiberius do in 16-15 BC? (2)
- Led a combined campaign to conquer the territory north of the Alps as far as the Danube
- They organised it into two districts called Raetia (Switzerland) and Noricum (Austria)
What happened in the northern region in 6 AD?
- Serious uprising that took Tiberius three years to subdue
Why did Augustus intend to push the boundaries past the Rhone and to the Elbe?
- The Elbe was a smaller river and therefore easier to defend
What did Drusus do in 12-9 BC?
- Subdued various Germanic tribes and eventually reached the Elbe before being tragically killed when he fell from his horse
Tiberius continued Drusus’ work and achieved further success, establishing which province?
- Germania
