Augustus

Question 1

Battle of Actium, 31 BCE

Answer 1

• Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra
• Octavian is sole ruler of Roman empire

Question 2

After Actium

Answer 2

• Octavian is consul every year, 33-23 BCE (10 consulships in a row)
• Problem: How not to be
  assassinated?
• Solution: Say that the Republic is restored.
• Holds powers but not offices

Question 3

Emperor, 27 BCE - 14 CE

Answer 3

• 27 BCE turns all control back to Senate
• BUT Senate gives back control of military provinces (=armies)
• New powers (next slide)
• 27 BCE receives title Augustus (Revered One)
• Also called the princeps (leading citizen)

Question 4

Powers of Augustus

Answer 4

• Tribunician power
• Emperors measure rule by this power
• Consular imperium
• Proconsular imperium
• Greater than the imperium of provincial governors
• Chapter on Republican government describes powers of tribune, consul, proconsul)
• 12 BCE: Pontifex Maximus (chief priest of Rome)

Question 5

Augustus in the Res Gestae:

Answer 5

• After this time, I excelled all in influence (auctoritas), although I possessed no more official
  power (potestas) than others who were my colleagues in the several magistracies.
• The Res Gestae were posted in front of Augustus’
  mausoleum

Question 6

Other titles without powers

Answer 6

• divi filius = “son of a deified person”
• Pater Patriae (father of the fatherland)
• Princeps
• Changes his first name to Imperator
• Commander, general

Question 7

Republic continues, sort of

Answer 7

• Yearly consuls
• Later: appointed by Augustus
• BUT power of assemblies diminishes
• Emperor Tiberius moves voting into senate

Question 8

State finance

Answer 8

• State treasury
• Augustus’ wealth
• Military treasury (controlled by emperor)
• supported by sales tax and inheritance tax
• Pays for discharge bonus (pensions)
• ***This breaks the link between soldiers and commanders

Question 9

Augustus and army

Answer 9

• Fixed term of service
• Discharge bonus paid by state
• Control of armies and frontier zones
• Appoints all army commanders as “legates”
• Senatorial

Question 10

Augustus and the provinces

Answer 10

• Regularizes governing and
  taxing of provinces
• Census
• Contrast publicani
• Separate army commanders
  and financial officers
• Financial officer is
  procurator (equestrian rank)
• Frontier provinces have
  armies

Question 11

Equestrian class (Equites) :
wealthy but non-senatorial

Answer 11

• Appoints equites to many responsible, management positions
• In Rome and provinces
• Procurator: financial official

Question 12

Pax Romana, Pax Augusta

Answer 12

• End to civil wars
• Prosperity
• Return of the Parthian
  standards, 19 BCE
• Had been captured from Crassus in 53 BCE

Question 13

Religious and moral renewal (says Augustus)

Answer 13

Religious renewal
- Restores many temples
- Says he is bringing back proper worship
- Links it to prosperity Moral legislation
- On marriage, divorce, adultery
- Raising children

Question 14

Marking an heir

Answer 14

• Adoption
• Share Tribunician power!
• Unusual or early magistracies
• Or military commands
• Marriage connections
• Many intended heirs die young
• Stepson Tiberius is successor

Question 15

Assessment of Augustus
(died AD 14, age 77)

Answer 15

• Control of armies
• Masks power
• Pax Augusta
• Overhaul of government
• Enduring system