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Ancient History: Rome > The Beginning and Actium > Flashcards

The Beginning and Actium Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the year in which Julius Caesar died and civil war broke out?

A
  • 44 BC
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2
Q

When did Mark Antony overcome the last of the Republicans at Philippi?

A
  • 42 BC
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3
Q

What was Octavian’s excuse for war against Mark Antony?

A
  • He married Cleopatra whilst already married to Octavian’s sister
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4
Q

When did Mark Antony and Cleopatra start to sail towards Greece (wintering in Ephesus)?

A
  • 32 BC
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5
Q

How was civil war spun in favour of Octavian?

A
  • Cleopatra was the enemy and controlling Mark Antony. It was played off as a battle for Rome’s survival rather than a civil war
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6
Q

What was on the propagandistic coins released after Actium?

A
  • Depicted Venus and showed Octavian in armour
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7
Q

What propaganda (other than coins) was commissioned after Actium?

A
  • Poems and dedicated buildings
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8
Q

What was the background of both Horace and Virgil which affected the way they wrote?

A
  • They were both contemporary poets who were commissioned to write favourable accounts of Actium
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9
Q

Give Tacitus’ background and how this affected the way he wrote

A
  • Later Senator from Gaul who survived the tyrannical reign of the emperor Domition. There was no pressure for him to write favourably as he was born in a different time. Personal prejudices may have made him harsher and more negative
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10
Q

Give Velleius Paterculus’ background and how this affected the way he wrote

A
  • Contemporary soldier who served under Augustus and Tiberius. He became a senator during their reigns and so writes favourably because of his own experiences
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11
Q

Give Suetonius’ background and how this affected the way he wrote

A
  • Later Equestrian biographer, secretary to the emperor Hadrian and had access to his archives
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12
Q

Give Cassius Dio’s background and how this affected the way he wrote

A
  • Later Senator who experienced a much more monarchial princeps (the people had fewer rights and so he may write skeptically of those who gave rights and powers to the people)
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13
Q

What does Horace sat about the role of Augustus at Actium? Give two quotes

A
  • Augustus was personally instrumental in the victory over Cleopatra
  • “hawk against a gentle dove”
  • “Caesar pursued her from Italy”
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14
Q

How does Horace’s account of Actium portray Augustus? Give a quote

A
  • As the defender of Rome

- “The maddened queen was plotting demented ruin of the capitol”

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15
Q

What does Horace say of the role of the gods at Actium? What does he imply? Give a quote

A
  • Implies that the gods were on Augustus’ side and that he was fighting for the defence of Roman civilisation
  • Compares the victory festival to “feasts worthy of the Salii” (priests who worshipped the gods through festivals and dance)
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16
Q

How does Horace promote the official propaganda line? (2 points + 2 quotes)

A
  • Promotes the idea that if the Romans lost, they would be conquered by Egypt and Cleopatra “planning our empire’s funeral rites”
  • Calls Cleopatra a “doom laden monster” with a “contaminated crew of men”
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17
Q

What three things does Horace fail to mention about Actium?

A
  • Agrippa
  • Mark Antony
  • The fact that Augustus used the victory to seize power
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18
Q

What year did the battle of Actium take place?

A
  • 31 BC
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19
Q

What does Virgil say about the role of Augustus at Actium? Give two quotes

A
  • “leading the Italians into battle”

- “Riding in triple triumph through the walls of Rome…making to Italy’s gods his vows everlasting

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20
Q

What does Virgil say about the gods at Actium? Give three quotes

A
  • They fought in the battle
  • “Mars raged”
  • “Actium Apollo was drawing his bow”
  • “Barking Anubis, ranged against Neptune”
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21
Q

How does Virgil promote the official propaganda line? Give one point and two quotes

A
  • Antony portrayed as a foreign traitor
  • “with his barbarian motley”
  • “while (for shame!) an Egyptian wife followed behind”
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22
Q

What does Virgil fail to mention about Actium? (3)

A
  • No mention of any Romans on Antony’s side
  • Implied that any Romans who were on Antony’s side would have been misguided by Cleopatra
  • No mention of Agrippa
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23
Q

What does Tacitus imply about Augustus’ role at Actium? 3 quotes

A
  • It was Augustus’s means of gaining power - “he faced no opposition since the bravest souls had either died in battle or fallen victim to prescription”
  • “he seduced the soldiers with gifts, the people with corn and everyone with the delights of peace”
  • “he gradually increased his power, arrogating to himself the functions of the senate, the magistrates and the law”
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24
Q

In what three ways does Tacitus’ writing differ to that of the poets? (Give one quote)

A
  • no glorification
  • Civil war element emphasised along with Augustus using the battle for power
  • shows sycophantic attitude of society “the surviving nobles enjoyed a wealth and status that increased in proportion to their servility”
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25
Q

What four things does Tacitus fail to mention about Actium?

A
  • Cleopatra
  • Agrippa
  • What happened during the battle
  • The consequences of the battle
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26
Q

What does Velleius Paterculus say about Augustus’ role at Actium? Give three quotes

A
  • Glorification “Caesar returned to Rome to universal acclaim and huge crowds”
  • “There was nothing that Augustus did not restore to the Republic. the people of Rome and the world at large”
  • “Force was restored to the laws, authority to the courts, majesty to the senate”
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27
Q

What does Velleuis Paterculus include in his account of Actium that is not mentioned by the poets ? What does this show?

A
  • Mentions that Augustus was almost assassinated by Lepidus’ son, which shows that not everybody supported Augustus’ claim to power and so the term “universal acclaim” is inaccurate
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28
Q

What does Velleius Paterculus fail to mention about Actium? (3)

A
  • The battle itself is glossed over
  • No Antony or Cleopatra (although this is covered earlier in his account in detail)
  • The fact that it was a civil war
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29
Q

What does Suetonius say about Augustus’ role at Actium? What does he focus on? What does he mention? What does this show?

A
  • Focuses on the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra as a means of seizing power
  • Mentions Antony being forced to commit suicide
  • Mentions how Caesarion was targeted because of his claim (Caesar + Cleopatra’s son)
  • This shows Augustus to not be as nice as other sources suggest
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30
Q

In what way is Suetonius’ writing different to that of the poets? (3)

A
  • Wrote of how after Actium, Augustus’ army mutinied until they got paid, so he wasn’t as loved as the poets claimed
  • Mentions how Augustus forced Mark Antony to commit suicide
  • Writes of the murder of Caesarion and Antony’s eldest child using the term “slew him” (not so nice now)
31
Q

What three things does Suetonius fail to mention about Actium?

A
  • The fact it was a civil war
  • Only briefly mentions the actual battle
  • No Agrippa
32
Q

Describe the Aureus of Octavian (3)

A
  • Coins minted in the province of Asia in 28 BC
  • Shows Octavian with a laurel crown
  • On the reverse shows him seated in the Magistrate’s chair with the inscription that translates to “he restored laws and rights to the republic”
33
Q

What did Agrippa advise Augustus when he had won the civil war?

A
  • Not to establish a monarchy as “people will think that we have been aiming at monarchy all the while”
34
Q

Describe Augustus’ hybrid government system (4)

A
  • Mix between monarchy and Republic - decided to maintain the republican framework
  • Senate and assemblies kept meeting
  • Magistrates elected every year
  • Octavian elected every year until 23 BC. when a new MO was devised
35
Q

When did Octavian renounce all of his special powers, including command over provinces, armed forces stationed there and control of all finances?

A
  • January 27 BC
36
Q

What did the Senate do three days after Octavian renounced his powers? (3)

A
  • Handed ack the military provinces
  • Offered him the dictatorship
  • Offered him consulship for life
37
Q

Why did Augustus choose the title ‘princeps’ (2)

A
  • Term had long been in use - the oldest senator was princeps of the senate and the first to speak, and Princeps were the noblest and most influential members of the aristocracy during the republic
  • Made him sound like less of a dictator
38
Q

In the Res Gestae, how does Augustus say he rejected that which the senate offered him?

A
  • “Non recipi”
39
Q

How did the Principate emerge?

A
  • Through the constitutional settlements of 27 and 23 BC
40
Q

In the first constitutional settlement of 27 BC, what powers as Augustus given?

A
  • In Rome: Consul (imperium)

- Outside Rome: Proconsul

41
Q

What did Augustus relinquish in the second constitutional settlement of 23 BC?

A
  • The annual repeating consulship
42
Q

In 23 BC (via the constitutional settlement) how did the senate change the nature of Augustus’ imperium? (2)

A
  • Augustus was allowed to keep his imperium wherever he was whereas usually a proconsul’s imperium lapsed when crossing into the core Roman lands
  • Imperium became maius imperium, overriding that of all others in the state
43
Q

As a part of Maius Imperium, what else did Augustus receive? What did this do?

A
  • Tribunicia potestas
  • Gave him the power of a tribune so he could introduce new legislation and veto any legislation put forward by the senate
44
Q

What special grants were given to Augustus to compensate for the powers lost with the renunciation of the annual consulship? (4)

A
  • The right of a seat on the Consul’s platform
  • The right of speaking first at a senate meeting
  • The right to summon a meeting of the senate
  • The cura annonae (care of Rome’s grain supply)
45
Q

After the constitutional settlement of 23 BC, what was the basis of Augustus’ legal authority? (2)

A
  • Maius Imperium

- Tribunicia Potestas

46
Q

What did Augustus say about his power in the Res Gestae? (2)

A
  • “after I had extinguished the civil wars, having become master of everything by the consent of all, I transferred the Republic from my power to the control of the Senate and the Roman people”
    “After that time I excelled in auctoritas but I had no more potestas than others who were my colleagues”
47
Q

Does Velleius Paterculus agree that Augustus restored the Republic? Give three quotes to back it up

A
  • Yes
  • “the traditional form of the Republic was brought back”
  • “there was nothing thereafter which men could have hoped for from the gods”
  • “force restored to the laws, authority to the courts, and majesty to the senate”
48
Q

What powers does Velleius claim Augustus had? Quote?

A
  • Ultimate power on par with the gods

- “there was nothing thereafter which men could have hoped for from the gods”

49
Q

What powers does Velleius Paterculus claim Augustus refused? (3) Give quotes

A
  • Dictatorship “His rejection of the dictatorship was as obstinate as the people’s determination to offer it to him”
  • “force restored to the laws, authority to the courts, majesty to the senate” - he restored their power rather than taking it for himself
  • Consulship - “later he was to refuse it vigorously” (when he relinquished it in the second settlement)
50
Q

Does Cassius Dio agree that Augustus restored the Republic? Give three quotes to back it up

A
  • No
  • “these are the institutions that have taken over from the Republic”
  • “in reality Caesar was destined to have absolute authority of all matters for all time”
  • “from his time there was, strictly speaking, a monarch; for monarchy would be the truest name for it”
51
Q

What powers does Cassius Dio claim that Augustus had? (4)

A
  • Master of funds
  • Consul (proconsul when out of Rome)
  • Commander of the soldiers
  • “by virtue of holding the censorship they investigate out lives and morals as well as take the census” - involved being able to enroll and erase people from different classes
52
Q

What powers does Cassius Dio claim that Augustus refused? Give a quote

A
  • The role of dictator - Augustus took every power “with the single exception of the dictatorship”
53
Q

Does Suetonius agree that Augustus restored the Republic? Give two quotes to back it up

A
  • No
  • The Centurion Cornelius showed his sword and said “this will make him consul if you do not”
  • “he usurped the consulship, leading his legions against the city as if it were than of an enemy”
54
Q

What powers does Suetonius claim that Augustus had? 2 quotes

A
  • “Lifelong tribunician power”

- “Task of supervising public morals and scrutinising the law”

55
Q

What powers does Suetonius claim Augustus refused? Give a quote to back it up

A
  • Held the power of censor, but not the title

- “Although he did not adopt the role of censor, he was privileged to hold a public census”

56
Q

Does the Res Gestae agree that Augustus restored the Republic? Give two quotes to back it up

A
  • No
  • The Centurion Cornelius showed his sword and said “this will make him consul if you do not”
  • “he usurped the consulship, leading his legions against the city as if it were that of an enemy”
57
Q

What powers does Suetonius claim Augustus had? (2 quotes)

A
  • “Lifelong tribunician power”

- “Task of supervising public morals and scrutinising the law”

58
Q

What powers does Suetonius claim Augustus refused? Give a quote to back it up

A
  • Held power of censor but not title

- “Although he did not adopt the role of censor, he was privileged to hold a public census”

59
Q

Does the Res Gestae agree that Augustus restored the Republic? Give three quotes to back it up

A
  • Yes
  • “having become master of everything by the consent of all, I transferred the Republic from my power to the control of the senate and the Roman people”
  • “by decree of the Senate (so not himself) I was called Augustus”
  • “I excelled in all authority (auctoritas) but I had no more power (potestas) than others who were my colleagues in each magistracy
60
Q

How does the Res Gestae make the way Augustus got all his power sound?

A
  • Like all of the powers he received were gifted to him by the people and the senate, and that he wasn’t reaching for power at all
61
Q

What powers does the Res Gestae claim that Augustus had? (2 quotes)

A
  • “I was acclaimed imperator 21 times”

- “I was princeps senatus, up to the day of writing this, for forty years”

62
Q

What powers does the Res Gestae claim that Augustus refused (4 points, three of them quotes)

A
  • “The senate decreed further triumphs for me, all of which I declined”
  • “The dictatorship was offered to me…but I refused it”
  • Senate tried to appoint him supervisor of laws and morals with supreme power and without a colleague
  • “I did not accept any office offered contrary to ancestral tradition”
63
Q

Does Tacitus agree that Augustus restored the Republic? Give two quotes to back it up

A
  • No
  • “he gradually increased his power, arrogating to himself the functions of the senate, the magistrates and the law”
  • “He faced no opposition, since the bravest souls had died in battle or fallen victim to proscription”
64
Q

What powers does Tacitus claim Augustus had? Quote

A
  • “content to defend the people by virtue of the tribunician power”
65
Q

What powers does Tacitus say Augustus refused?

A
  • None
66
Q

When was Augustus Triumvir? What was this power?

A
  • 43-33 BC

- Basically the power of a dictator, just divided between three men

67
Q

In what year was the Oath of Allegiance to Augustus sworn by all citizens?

A
  • 33 BC
68
Q

When was Augustus Consul? (5)

A
  • 43 BC
  • 33 BC
  • 31-23 BC
  • 5 BC
  • 2 BC
69
Q

When was Augustus proconsul?

A
  • 27 BC - 14 AD
70
Q

When was Augustus given lifelong tribunician power?

A
  • 23 BC, with the 2nd constitutional settlement
71
Q

When was Augustus given Maius Imperium?

A
  • 23 BC, with the 2nd constitutional settlement
72
Q

When did Augustus become the intendent of the corn supply (cura annonae)? Why?

A
  • 22 BC

- There was a famine in the same year

73
Q

What is auctoritas?

A
  • Influence (or authority) born of wealth, prestige and fame

Ancient History: Rome (12 decks)

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