Rome- Augustus' powers Flashcards
What provinces were under Octavian’s control after the first settlement?
Spain (except Hispania and Baetica)
Gaul
Egypt
Syria (except for Cilicia and Cyprus)
What was different about the ruling of Egypt?
There was a propraetor or prefect who was in control of it alongside Octavian who was chosen by the emperor
What did Augustus have the right to do in his provinces?
He could declare war and make treaties
What happened to all the provinces other than the ones that Augustus was ruling in the first settlement
They were under senatorial control and the proconsul/ propraetor who ruled them was chosen by lot. These officials did not possess military power
What title did Octavian have given to him by the Senate regarding his name and what were the implications of that?
Octavian was given the name Augustus which means “the revered one” -this had connections to temples and sacred things. Suggested that he had superhuman powers but was not actually a god
What title was given to Augustus about the Senate?
Augustus was given the ‘princeps senatus’ meaning he was the leader of the Senate allowing him to set the agenda for the Senate meetings and he could set where it was held
What were the 3 more minor honours given to Augustus in the first settlement?
- The civic crown- the standard award for saving a citizen’s life in battle
- laurel crowns- a symbol of victory
- the clupeus virtutis- a shield which was placed beside a statue of the goddess Victory in the Senate House
What did Augustus restore in the first settlement but how did he still retain power?
Augustus restored consular elections every year.
However he held consular imperium for 10 years and he was a consul every year from 31-23BC
He also received imperium proconsulare outside Rome
How did Augustus maintain his grip on power through the elections of magistrates by the tribal assembly?
He made it so that the elections were constrained by ‘commendatio’- Augustus’ approval
In the Second constitution which position of power did Augustus give up and which one did he gain?
Augustus resigned the consulship and became an honorary tribune. He permanently held the ‘tribunicia potestas’
What compensated Augustus for his loss of imperium consulare?
- He had the right to a seat on the consuls’ platform in the senate house
- The right to speak first at senate meetings
- He had the right to summon senate meetings
What tightened his grasp on power in the second constitution and symbolised his unique status?
Augustus received ‘imperium maius proconsulare’ meaning that he could govern his own provinces andd armies but could also interfere in other governors’ provinces.
What power does Augustus receive in 22BC?
Augustus received the ‘cura annonae’ temporarily which made him in charge of importing grain
What was Augustus granted in 19BC?
Augustus was granted consular imperium and 12 lictors
In 18BC, what did the ‘Leges Juliae’ attempt to do?/How did they get enforced?
They attempted to elevate both the morals and numbers of the upper classes in Rome.
They did this through the encouragement of marriage and having children whilst establishing adultery as a private and public crime.
To encourage population expansion there were penalties imposed on those who remained celibate. The young bachelors of marrying age and young widows who wouldn’t marry were debarred from receiving inheritances and from atending public games
Augustus also introduced the ‘law of the three sons’ which offered political and legal benefits to both men and women who had 3 legitimate children. Due to this law women were allowed to own their own property
