Senate and the Emperor

Question 1

Tiberius calls the Senate “Men schooled for slavery!”

Answer 1

Tacitus Annals Book 3

Question 2

Tacitus says the Senate “competed to stand up and make vile and excessive proposals”, even ex-consuls

Answer 2

Tacitus Annals Book 3

Question 3

“princeps…should regard himself as the servant of the Senate.”

Answer 3

Suetonius, Tiberius, 29

Question 4

Suetonius, Tiberius 29

Answer 4

“princeps…should regard himself as the servant of the Senate.”

Question 5

Claudius gave Felix command of armies and “the governorship of Judaea”

Answer 5

Suetonius, Claudius 28

Question 6

Claudius fell so deeply under the influence of these freedmen…he seemed to be their servant rather than their emperor

Answer 6

Suetonius, Claudius 29

Says he distributed offices and punishments according to their wishes

Question 7

Thus the Roman Empire was at that time a slave two emperors at once, Nero and Helius [a freedman]

Answer 7

Cassius Dio, Roman History 63

Helius was allowed to execute anyone, even senators, without notifying Nero

Question 8

Tacitus, Annals 12

Answer 8

Tacitus describes how Claudius’ freedmen picked Claudius’ wife for him. “…competition having arisen among the freedmen as to who would choose a wife for Claudius”

Question 9

Augustus, Res Gesate 34

Answer 9

I handed over the state from my power to the dominion of the senate and Roman people

Question 10

the magistrates have regained their authority, the senate its majesty…

Answer 10

Velleius Paterculus Roman History Book 2

Question 11

Cremutius Cordus date

Answer 11

25 AD

Question 12

Dio Book 53

Answer 12

Discusses how Augustus split up the provinces
Some controlled by Senate
Ones with garrisons controlled by A.
“Through this process, the power of the people and senate was wholly transferred to Augustus”
Suetonius and Tacitus agree

Question 13

Augustus’ power

Annals Book 1

Answer 13

Augustus “gradually increased his power, arrogating to himself the functions of the senate, the magistrate, and the law”

Dio agrees, 53

Question 14

Nero “hinted broadly…he would one day wipe out the entire senatorial order and let equities and freedmen govern the provinces and command the armies instead”

Answer 14

Suetonius, Nero 37

Question 15

Suetonius Claudius 29

Answer 15

Claudius made the Senate honor Pallas with money and insignias of quaestorship and praetorship

These were originally reserved for senators, anger results?

Question 16

Distinction between Senate and individual senators

Answer 16

Senate did not have much power
However, the emperor picks men from the senators to fill certain roles (urban prefect, province governor)
Senators were on privy council (Sat. 4)

Question 17

Claudius and freedmen

Answer 17

Freedmen started getting credit, under earlier reigns, emperor would take it all
Senate had to honor freedmen, Claudius credited them for policies
Claudius treated them with respect, Augustus made social distinctions
All of this would have angered senate and aristocracy

Question 18

ILS 244

Answer 18

Inscription telling us the powers the Senate granted to Vespasian
Included passing decrees, appointing people to posted etc.
His powers compared to Augustus, Caesar, Caligula, and Claudius
Shows how the SENATE still have appearance of power, despite the way Vespasian took power.
Only have half the inscription

Question 19

Inscription on Vespasian’s powers

Answer 19

ILS 244