Julio - Claudians Flashcards
(293 cards)
1
Q
how did the people come to terms with Augustus’ triumph?
A
the people “accepted his triumph with pleasure, as though the enemies conquered had all been foreigners”
(cassius dio 51:21)
2
Q
what did vell pat say augustus restored?
A
the republic:
“the ancient, traditional form of the republic was brought back”
3
Q
what shows that the whole empire was loyal to augustus?
A
“the whole of italy, of its own accord, swore an oath of allegiance to me”
(res gest 25.2 - 32BC)
4
Q
when does suetonius say augustus wanted to restore the republic?
A
“twice augustus seriously thought of restoring the republic” - once after defeating mark antoy and once after coming close to death by illness
suetonius is more sceptical that he restored the republic “seriously” suggesting the efforts highlighted in vell pat were fascades
5
Q
does cassius dio think augustus restored the republic?
A
no, he believes augustus made necessary changes - an understabdable view from an aristocratic greek who made it as a senator in the later empire (c.200 yrs); he would have grown accustomed to and benefitted from the system
6
Q
what kind of rule was the principate?
A
an autocracy. cassius dio terms it a “monarchy” and tacitus believes it “despotism” regardless, it was a continuation of the one man rule precedent set by marius, sulla, pompey, caesar and now octavian
7
Q
when augustus lays down his powers in the first settlement, what does he believe that every roman is aware of?
A
“it is in my power to rule over you for life”
(cassius dio 53.4)
his speech reinforces the lack of choice that the people have in returning him his powers - they know he is the only suitable leader because he could be a proficient destroyer if not
8
Q
what does R. Syme claim about augustus image of republic restoration?
A
although he ruled like a monarch, he could claim his power came from the people and senate so maintains a republican facade
9
Q
what is agrippa’s advisory speech in dio really a representation of?
A
agrippa becomes a vessel and mouthpiece for dio’s views about the dangers of monarchy and how he should promote democracy - dio gives a kind of omnipresence here which should be recognised as a literary technique and taken with heed
10
Q
what does the first settlement of 27 seem to portray augustus as having to do?
A
it “compelled him, as it seemed to accept autocratic powers” (cassius dio) whilst making it seem like he didn’t want to accept it.
ie. power thrust onto him (classically according to aristotle, plato etc, deserving individuals should not have to ask to bear responsibility)
11
Q
how and why did Augustus put himself in such a strong (military) position?
A
“he handed over the weaker provinces to the senate” [under the pretext of making life easier for them] so that “the senate should be unarmed and unprepared for war” (cassius dio 53.12)
continuation of how “senate was inordinately terrified as they had no military force at their disposal” (Appian bk. 3) - not changed too much
12
Q
why does tacitus believe nobody challenged augustus?
A
“he faced no opposition, since the bravest souls had died in battle of fallen victim to proscription”
it wasn’t that he was a good leader or universally loved, he was the only one left - and actively maintained that
13
Q
why was the senate weak in terms of resources?
A
Augustus had complete authority: “he not only had control of the funds but also commanded the army” (dio)
couldn’t use troops to overthrow, couldn’t use money to buy him out or use mercenaries - aug. had every exit covered
14
Q
what was the first “defensive arrangement” augustus took after the first settlement?
A
he established the praetorian guard and made sure to pay them twice as much “so genuine was his desire to lay down absolute power” as cassius dio sarcastically remarks
15
Q
from 30 - 23 bc how did augustus legally represent his power in terms of republican offices?
A
he held the consulship over this period and was given proconsular imperium; hence he outranked nearly everyone in the empire.
people grew tired of one consulship always being taken and saw this as unconstitutional so he changed this to tribunicias potestas and maius proconsulare imperium in the 2nd settlement
16
Q
how does tacitus emphasise augustus’ subtle envelopment of the state?
A
“he gradually increased his power, commandeering to himself the functions of the senate, magistrates and the law”
17
Q
what was crucial to maintaining the republican facade in terms of offices and positions?
A
augustus ensured that all traditional republican posts remained the same in appearance with different people filling them and being elected - all the power of these institutions were under him though (dio)
emperors absorbed the powers to ensure all seemed well from the outside but anyone inside could see this was not true; but augustus did keep everyone outside
18
Q
where did augustus like to claim all his power came from?
A
honour and virtue; eg the shield of virtue, his auctoritas, first and second settlements (oak crown, laurel wreaths, even tribune connotes a sacrosanctity, simplicity and favour of the people)
19
Q
how does ovid portray aug to be better than romulus and emphasise his moral reforms?
A
“you were rome’s lord and master - he is simply princeps, our first citizen”
(fasti, 2.142)
aids to fact that he can’t be a king because he is an equal and lacks the despotism that even the great romulus had
20
Q
what indicated that the first settlement gave him absolute power purely by virtue?
(Minted by aug.)
A
coins, such as the aureus of the civic crown in 27, shield of virtue denarius of 19 bc
21
Q
when did aug consecutively hold consulship and what did this give him?
A
31 - 23 bc, it gave im proconsular imperium (legal basis for his power)
22
Q
how did aug establish is autocracy subtly?
A
“he gradually increased his power, drawing under him the powers of the senate, the magistrates and law”
(tac. ann)
learns from caesars mistake to openly claim absolute power (arguably dictator for life/almost crowning by antony got him executed?)
23
Q
what does dio tell us about the organs of the republic?
A
all the same offices still existed, but their power was completely gone and under augustus now - this made his actions look legal and kept the republicans happy, who still got to wear nice clothes, enjoy prestige and banquets bt missed all the boring admin
24
Q
what significant wreaths and trees could aug have outside his house?
A
dio states he could have the laurel trees and oak wreaths garnish his exterior (oak crowns symbolising saving a citizen’s life and laurel trees signifying victory etc.)
25
what was the clipeus virtuis and what was it for?
the shield of virtue in the senate house that aug claims in the res gest. was given him because of "courage, clemency and piety"
26
what does augustus mean and what does it give octavian?
"the revered one" and was chosen by oct over romulus and others; this gave him auctoritas which was supposedly deposited by the senate
27
what two honours/powers is aug given in the 2nd constitutional settlement of 23?
dio states he was given tribunician potestas for life (granted him sacrosanctity, right to prop legislation, veto and large auctoritas) and maius proconsulare imperium - allowing him to lay down the consulship but still outrank every office in the empire
28
outline of how tac. portrays tib?
horrendously. the worst. person. ever.
29
outline of how suet. shows tib?
attempts to be balanced and highlight good and bad parts of his reign (still leans towards criticism - pederasty, psychoticism, remorselessness, etc. )
30
outline of vell. pat. portrayal of tib?
overly positive - often completely disregarded by historians of the last century for this, evidence has come to light that he can be quite useful now though.
31
how does dio portray tib and why?
attempts to be objective but only because he used much of suetonius' work as a source - arguably a good thing?
32
Who says Tiberius is unfathomable?
Tacitus, 1.24 "the natural incomprehensibility of Tiberius"
This meant he was easily misunderstood and it appeared people could do no right - they grew irritated of not knowing
33
Who was Tiberius' one confidant?
"to Sejanus alone, the otherwise cryptic emperor spoke freely and unguardedly"
(Tac.)
this gave Sejanus power, access and trust as well as leverage if necessary
34
How did Tiberius view/treat Germanicus according to Tac?
"the emperor interpreted every action of Germanicus unfavorably" (Tac. 1.62)
His unpleasantness towards his 'son' is also shown when Tac. suggests "the emperor's approval was not lacking" over his murder by Piso and his refusal to speak with Agrippina, lack of grief and refusal to grant him honors
35
How does Vell. Pat. show Tiberius' opinion of Germanicus?
He is is insistent of the emperors affection due to his granting of a triumph, sharing a consulship and giving him maius imperium While in the east
36
What does the Tabula Hebana imply about Tiberius' and Germanicus' relationship?
It suggests that Germanicus was granted great honors after death and had a statue built on the palatine hill, counteracting Tac.s narrative of his passing into obscurity
37
What did Tiberius believe the senators were?
"men fit to be slaves!" because of their undiluted sycophancy (Tac.)
He disliked this and wanted a functioning senate.
38
How did Tiberius use Sejanus' downfall to his advantage?
He used the Sejanus faction as a scape goat to divert the people's hatred from himself and maintained a culture of fear that he was omnipotent which kept the plebs and senate in line and allowed him to effectively rule.
This was duplicitous - as Sejanus played him, he played Sejanus
39
What are the contrasting views of Tiberius' public buildings?
Vell. Pat. "wonderful public buildings" - Including temple of Aug and theater of Pompey
Tacitus - nothing, he was a tight arse
Suetonius - concedes he finished Aug temple and fatherland but did nothing else; no games or spectacles either
40
What did the roman people think of Gaius' accession and why?
"Gaius' accession seemed to the roman people... like an answer to their prayers" (Suet. Gaius) because they despised him so much
41
When are the treason trials brought back the first time?
In Augustus' reign, although Tac. incorrectly attributes it to Tiberius' Probably due to his anti-Domitian bias he wants to amplify Tiberius evil autocracy and cut clear Augustus as a foil, like Germanicus
42
How did Seneca describe the treason trials under Tiberius?
Who was Seneca?
"a form of national madness that cost the lives of more Romans than any civil war"
He lived 4bc - 65ad, banished by Claudius for sleeping with is niece, Tutored Nero.
withdrew from public in 62 doing most of his writing up until his suicide in 65
43
How did Suet. portray Tiberius' execution of the treason trials?
The maiestas law was savagely enforced
44
Who counters Tiberius' lack of clemency during Maiestas trials?
Tac. defends him saying he defended some of those who were put on trial (Lucius Ennius who was accused of melting a statue of Tib.)
45
What savage decision did Tiberius carry out in 33?
Finally orders the deaths (women and children included) of Sejanus' supporters - these were not dignified executions.
46
Who declared that the key to being an emperor was providing "Bread and circuses"?
Juvenal in satires, showing how the might of the people can be won with trivial acts. Its newfound prominence in society was a benefit of imperial rule for the Plebs
47
How did Augustus win the affection of the people?
"He seduced the soldiery with gifts, the people with corn and all with the delights of peace" (Tac.)
and he provided beast hunts, games, gladiator fights and naval battles according to his res gestae; in which he also claims to give out HS 400 per man 3 times (29, 24, 12 bc)
48
What did the giving of gifts by an emperor indicative of?
Their popularity - generally, more gifts meant more support by the people, this was their perk for supporting Imperial power, but this wasn't always true for the senate
49
How did the People benefit from Gaius' squandered wealth?
"would scatter vouchers among thee audience entitling them to all sorts of gifts"
"He held several gladiatorial contests"
(Suet. Gaius)
Hence the reason the people loved him and the senate and praetorian guard eventually hacked him to pieces
50
Regarding troops, what was Claudius the first Caesar to do?
Upon accession, he gives each soldier 15,000 sesterce making him “the first of the caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops” - suet, Claudius
51
What does Nero do during games according to Suetonius?
He would give out vouchers for farms, ships and slaves
52
What do the gates of Janus show upon closing, who did this?
Peace ran through the empire, they were closed twice before Augustus’s reign and 3 times during it (suet, deified Augustus)
53
What theme of Gaius' reign do sources give most attention to?
His use of Imperial cult (Tac.) - Extreme presentation of godliness could be used to distance himself from Tiberius, Who refused almost all forms of deification (even at Gytheum)
This would also bring Gaius closer to an Augustan image
54
How did Gaius show he and his family to be divine?
Placed his daughter on Jupiter's knee (dio .), claiming she was daughter of himself and jupiter, Argued with gods (and invited them to sleep with him), made a machine to emulate thunder and lightning, consecrated his own priesthood and temple and basically turned all the temples on palatine and capitoline into his house (entrance guarded by Dioscuri - Dio)
55
What did Gaius do when making his own Priesthood?
"Swore himself in as a priest of himself, and appointed his horse a fellow priest" - Dio
56
How does Gaius' Use of imperial cult evolve over his reign?
"at the start of his reign, he forbade the setting up of any images of him" - dio
but later "he insisted on being treated as a god" (suet. Gaius 22)
57
What reinstatement shows Gaius to be unpredictable and Volatile?
He claims to stop the maiestas trial and burn the papers in 39 but then spontaneously brings it back (post illness) and uses it to kill assailants of his family with evidence from papers - Dio
58
Example of Gaius' weird unpredictibility?
"he summoned senators suddenly in the middle of the night as if on some urgent business and then danced in front of them" - Dio 59.5.5
59
What showed that you could never support or challenge Gaius for fear of injury?
"He was the first to insult him... both started to eulogise and revere him" (dio) he punished people for slagging off tiberius when he had done it initially - he even gives a speech castigating people for it.
60
Wha
61
What does seneca say about Gaius' malicia and brutality?
"such brutalities were his daily bread and butter" (on anger) these may have referred to his various executions, sadism and torture or mad and unfair lawmaking
62
What horrific thought does gaius find amusing over dinner?
"I have only to give one nod and both your throats will be cut" - Suet. Gaius 32 referring to the 2 consuls beside him
63
Suetonius, Gaius 30:
"let them hate me, so long as they fear me"
64
What did seneca account that gaius considered doing to punish the senate?
He actually flogged senators and "seriously considered butchering the whole senate" after uncovering the Lepidus plot
65
What does Josephus make of Gaius' spending?
He "poured millions into pleasures which served no useful purpose beyond his own gratification" (19.205) - Eg. the boats, villas, bridging the bay
66
What does "Tiberius" tell Gaius to do?
In a speech condemning people for slagging off tiberius, he imitates Tib. himself and tells himself to "take thought only for your own pleasure and safety" (Dio, 59.16.6)
67
What did Gaius do in under a year with Accrewed resources?
"He squandered Tiberius' entire fortune of 2,700 million Hs" (suet. Gaius 37)
68
What nearly happens to Gaius at a banquet with foreign kings?
"He nearly assumed a royal diadem then and there, transforming an ostensible principate into an actual kingdom" (suet. Gaius 22) - only stopping when his advisors convinced him he was already superior to aking as a god; assuming this would shatter rep. facade and cause demise like Caesar
69
Why does Josephus say Gaius builds a bridge across Puteoli?
In 39, he apparently believes that as a god it was fitting for him to cross by chariot - later Suet. tells us this was to impress a parthian prince Darius
Neither divulge this was actually a show of roman might and deterrent for foreign rebellion, because Jos. possibly wants to condemn extravagant choices to promote jewish values and suet is writing to build up a character (in this case the story of a despotic emperor who went mad)
70
What did people pledge to do for Gaius' recovery and what happened after he recovered?
They promised to commit suicide or fight as gladiators (suet. gaius 14) later asking them to follow through, indicative of his post illness madness.
He doesn't actually force them to carry out pledges - Just enough to scare them; advocates for dark sense of humour not insanity
71
How does Suet. structure his Biography of Gaius?
Splits into good and bad part: "so much for gaius the emperor; the rest of this history must deal with Gaius the monster" Showing a flip after his illness that polarises his character before
This is a como feature of Suet. work - also using gossip as a source (especially after being expelled from Hadrian's imperial court)
72
Why were the Senate and people always on edge?
"no one knew either what to say or how to act towards him" (Dio)
73
Why does Gaius' reign seem to start well?
"he seemed very democratic at first"; publishes accounts of state funds (like aug., were not under Tib.), burns papers with apparent evidence of treason, abolishes treason charge - this comes back in 39 and kills many
Dio
74
What does the Denarius of 37 do for Gaius?
Links him to germanicus and thus military glory - he had never held office or command before so used his family to secure legitimacy.
75
What did Gaius scatter to curry favour?
"scatter vouchers among the audience" for free gifts and tickets (Suet.)
76
What counters the suggestion that Gaius built lots (but unnecessary) things?
Josephus: he built "no great buildings" - charged with getting excited and then dropping out of projects.
Gaius persecuted jews, Josephus naturally portrayed him as bad; morally and in terms of infrastructure
77
What does Pliny make of the anio novus?
"There has been no more remarkable achievement in the whole world"
78
Who is Pliny? (younger)
Latin lawyer and eventually consul born in the 60s AD - Writes under trajan and was the administer of the drainage board
79
How were Gaius' grandmother and sisters honoured at the start of his reign?
Antonia was give the title of Augusta and they were all included in the oaths sworn to him as emperor - uses family to claim legitimacy because. of lack of experience - Dio
80
How did plebs air their grievances and why did this stop?
Josephus maintains that people at games in the circus would shout requests at the emperor to inspire new domestic policies; once the petitioned Gaius for lower taxes so he sent troops to gather the ringleaders and had them publicly executed in front of everyone in the middle of the circus.
They didn't do this again; let Gaius do anything for a quiet life
81
Despite being a senator, why does Tacitus portray the senate poorly in his Annals?
He documents relations between emperor and senate, implying reigns are at better points when these relations are good; but he believes the senate of this time were weak and immoral for letting such men get away with things. Thus he shows the senate to be oprressed but unwilling to do the right thing
82
How do most sources portray claudius?
Usually as a caricature of a typical comic invalid suggesting he was an easily manipulated coward.
This could be because the pro senatorial sources dislike that he was not granted power by the senate, because he was disabled or because they were creating Archetypal characters for the emperors reigns
83
What showed Claudius to be out of control and manipulated?
All of his actions "were dictated by his freedmen and wives" (Suet. claud. 25) and "he practically always obeyed their whims"
It is likely that Suet. had been expelled from Hadrian's court by then so he no longer has access to imperial archives and it is possible he is trying to character his emperors; augustus the god, Tiberius the recluse, Gaius the madman, Claudius the madman and Nero the narcicist
84
Why could Claudius be so subservient to his wives?
"claudius was unaware" of most things, including
Messalina's promiscuity (Dio 60.18.1) aiding to perception of bumbling, low self esteemed invalid
85
What is an example of Messalina's faithlessness?
Tacitus recounts a supposed marriage ceremony with C. Silius then rushing out to meet claudius in a waste cart - even Tacitus does doubt this happened making his account Ficticious
86
Why does Claudius' subservience debase roman values?
Pliny says there were many rich freedmen under claudius, along with powerful women and foreigners which disgraces the Aristocratic tradition of wealthy freeborn romans holding the power - damages conservative society
87
How Do claudius' wives work with slaves to meet their own objectives?
Agrippina and Pallas convince Claudius to adopt nero (tac. ) and Messalina and narcissus both came up with a story where they dreamt Silanus would kill Claudius (dio.) - sub citizens uniting to take power
88
How is Claudius seen as cowardly in 41?
When Gaius was murdered he was found hiding behind a curtain (Suet. gaius 10, Jos.) although he was likely engineered by the praetorian guard and had more control over his accent; this being a convenient, humourous ditto to suit Suet. narrative.
However arguably mor cowardly and more true is dio's suggestion he waited 30 days before entering the senate and instead secured power through praetorian guard first (dio )
89
How do the sources show Claudius as pathetic, cowardly and using the Praetorian guard as a comfort blanket?
- Waits 30 days before entering senate (dio)
- Hides behind guard and even puts them on coins- showing main source of power
- After learning of Messalina's random marriage, runs to praetorian camp and asks "am I still emperor?" (Suet. )
90
What kind of building did claudius do?
useful things; finished Anio Novus ("no more remarkable achievement in the whole world" - Pliny) and built new harbour at ostia for better grain supply (suet.)
91
What is Claudius' main source of Power?
The army and the plebs; behaved informally at picnics and engaged with them - shows paternal care, almost patron client relationship (suet.) and gave each soldier 15,000 Hs making him "the first of tha caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops"
92
How did Claudius deal with public catastrophes and what did this do?
When fire broke in Aemilian quarter, he employed firefighters by sitting out and doling out gold for help (suet. ) and when he was attacked by a mob with stale crusts over grain shortages, he doubles imports, insures merchant ships and offers bounty for merchant cargo
effecivley but reactive, not proactive
93
Who plots to overthrow claudius and what happens?
Scribonius and Vinicianus (consuls elect) plot to overthrow him in 42 but the army puts this down effectively
94
How did Claudius survive so long?
He was unassuming and defferrent to the senate - "abolished the charge of maiestas" (dio, 60.3.6), "sitting in court even on his own birthday" (Suet. claud. p14) and "wore a purple bordered toga" like any regular senator (dio) - He made others feel they had power over him to manipulate them
95
What counters claudius being humble and unassuming?
"he immediately accepted all honours voted to him except the title of father of the fatherland" which he assumes later - Dio.
suggests he believes his entitlement to rule
96
What did being deferrential to the senate do for claudius?
It endeared him to the people (Suet) since showing respect to senate maintained republican facade and discouraged autocracy
97
How did Claudius act honourably towards his opposition?
He gave immunity to those who wanted to restore the republic and those who had campaigned to become emperor against him - clementia (Dio)
98
What did Claudius do with the anniversary of Gaius' murder?
Nothing. respectfully he didnt turn it into a holiday Suet.) even though it marked his accession - discouraged precedent that murdering emperors was right, ensured his safety
99
How does dio portray claudius as acting with good conduct?
He handles financial difficulty well, refusing gifts to himself and redistributing assets seized under Tiberius and Gaius - financial problems were representative of a bad or worsening emperor
100
Summarise Nero's Portrayal in sources.
Worsens during his reign but most authors give him a quinquennium aureum, the end of which coincides with the death of agrippina signifying independent rule and a break from his advisors allowing despotism to run rampant
101
How is Nero delusional in 68?
He was initially unphased by the vindex revolt, continuing to live a luxurious life (dio) and eventually when deciding to do something it is t weep in front of the army while unarmed to soften their hearts and win back loyalty (suet)
102
What did nero want to do in 68 signifying his delusion and defeat?
Having lost all support, he wanted to move to alexandria as a lyre player; "a simple craft will keep a man from want" (suet. nero)
103
Why was the vindex revolt a minor issue and when did it become a threat?
Did not seem serious since vindex was govenor of a gallic province with no legionary garrison and there was no reason to doubt the legions under Lucius Verginius Rufus. the revolt was only a problem once galba, legate of spain, was declared emperor by his troops nd was supported by vindex (dio) - Rufus' troops want to make him emperor but instead they refer it to the senate
104
Why did Nero celebrate a triumph in 68?
His successes in greek musical contests (dio) - makes a mockery of ancient roman tradition
105
What did Seneca and Burrus try to stop nero from doing?
racing chariots, acting, singing dancing and other immoral acts (suet., tac.) but he loved them so much that he continued regardless and took full advantage of their deaths for his stage career
106
Why does Tacitus say that Immorality grew?
Nero and his behaviour which climaxes with his stage debut - the senatorial classes would have thought these acts unbecoming of an emperor and condemned them as immoral despite them being the main focus of Nero's life "Jupiter, what an artist: perishes in me" - Dio
107
How was Nero portrayed as malleable (pop.)?
Poppeia "nagged and mocked him incessantly" (tac. 14.4) and complained "he was under his guardian's thumb" since she wanted him to divorce octavia to Agrippina's dislike - this can be doubted since they only married 2 years post her death
108
How was Nero shown to be controlled by his mother?
"under his guardian's thumb" - Tac.; Unprecedentedly, Agrippina appeared on the Aurealis of 54 like a co-ruler and she often "appeared before her inebriated son all decked out and ready for incest'
All negative views but golden years only end after she dies
109
What was the character of poppaea?
Coinage and Joephus depict her as a competant and interested political figure, giving a more positive presentation than dio and tacitus - she joins the many julio claudian women who are portrayed as smart and tactical, condemned to evil
110
Who was Tigellinus?
Prefect of praetorian guard and eques who tacitus criticises for having corrupted nero, showing him every kind of depravity and then abandoning once he saw that nero's downfall was unavoidable
111
What did tactius observe about morals under nero?
"roman morals had long become impure, but never was there so favourable an environment for debauchery among this filthy crowd" (tac. 14.15)
112
What perverse act did Nero commit towards Pythagoras?
Nero married Pythagoras and made a show out of it "everything was public, which even in a natural union is veiled by night" (Tac. 13.15)
113
How does Tacitus think the great fire started?
"whether it was accidental or caused by a criminal act on the part of the emperor is uncertain" (15.38) - he is unsure of its origins but doubts Nero's guilt, more nuanced than Suet and portrays an inexperienced child opposed to an agent of chaos"
114
How does suet. think the fire started?
"he brazenly set fire to the city" and "sang the fall of troy" from the garden of maecenas (suet. 38) does not doubt guilt, suggests premeditation since he destroys grain and its storage that would have survived the fire, ordered torched be thrown into it and prevents people going through the ash because he wanted to loot it himself
115
What did Nero want in the centre of his 'domus aurea'?
in the sprawling complex of luxury buildings (suet.) , he wanted the 120' high colossus, initially to be cast in silver and gold (pliny) - narcissism and extravagance
116
How did Nero finance his buildings?
plundered temples, claimed 5/6 of freedmen's estates, maiestas trials, took back gifts from greece, took estates of wealthy senators after forced suicide, Purple dye at market story (Tac.)
117
What were examples of Nero's extravagance?
Suet. details many banquets, built the golden house, hosted many games and shows and ordered the beautification of rome, which despite being necessary to proactively prevent fire, he could not afford; would also give out vouchers during games (suet.)
117
What was the senate like under Tiberius?
subdued and stable being forced into "subservience" to protect their position; however the mutinies at the start of his reign may suggest there was some opposition from both senate and people (tac.) - Principate more stable than rep.
118
Why does Jos. say people were happy with Claudius in power?
"the emperors acted as a curb for its [senate's] repacity and were a source for protection for themselves" - lesser of 2 evils, senate was corrupt and dangerous
118
What contrasts peace by Principate?
(gaius)
Murdered by a praetorian and senatorial conspiracy to wrestle misused autocratic power and tyranny (jos., dio)
119
What indicated people were unhappy with neo after he died?
when he was ousted, People celebrated as if they'd been "freed from slavery" (Dio) although reports of imposter neros (especially in the east) by tac, dio and suet suggest his memory was still favourable
120
How did Nero help the people during the fire?
opened his gardens and buildings of agrippina to refugees, cut corn prices "to less than a sesterce a pound" and made relief houses but "these actions earned him no gratitude" (tac)
121
How did augustus proactively avoid fires and disaster?
he dredged the tibur and "organized stations of night watchmen to watch for fire (suet)
122
Why does Augustus become emperor?
he had the most power and auctoritas in rome, legally ratified by the first and second settlements of 27 and 23 bc but set it up as a monarchy
123
Why does Tiberius become emperor?
he takes over as most powerful man in rome and was publicly groomed as a successor, despite being the last resort
124
Why does Gaius become emperor?
due to birthright as part of the imperial family and dumb luck for having survived Tiberius - claims most power from familial connections (denarius of 37)
125
Why does Claudius become emperor?
he is the last suitable member of the imperial bloodline and is seen as manipulable by the praetorian guard - the senate have no say in his accession
126
Why does Nero come to power?
Due to his bloodline and relentlessness of his mother. he is pitted against britannicus until he is adopted by claudius and has a claim to legitimacy
127
What was key source of power for early emperors (augusts)?
Tribunician potestas - augustus claimed he "should have the tribunician powers for the rest of my life" (res gest) and shows his intended successor by granting the power (denarius of augustus and agrippa designates him)
128
How did Tiberius benefit from tribunician potestas?
he had it before ascending (Tac.) signifying his position of successor, he gave it to drusus after ger. died -using to signify own successor (tac.) - and convinces sejanus he'll give it to him to curb his suspicion (suet.)
129
What unprecedented move does gaius take upon accession that later becomes the norm?
His lineage meant that "in a single day he took all the honours which augustus had been slow to accept" (dio) suggesting he has no qualms about taking absolute power and is not concerned about maintaining republican facade - people come to terms with autocracy after hm as memory of republic dies
130
How did Aug. secure his power militarily after the first settlement of 27?
"he handed over the weaker provinces to the senate" so that "the senators should be unarmed and unprepared for war" (dio 53.12) and immediately set up praetorian guard with double pay "so genuine was his desire to lay down absolute power" (dio) - legal powers were for show and appeasement, real security came from ability to kill
131
Why does Gaius issue the denarius of 37?
to link him with germanicus so he can share the military glory - had no experience of command/office so relied on family
132
What archaeological evidence shows claudius' main drive of power upon accession?
coin of claudius and praetorian guard illustrates his debt to them and credits them with raising him to office
133
how does military support for nero change over his reign?
at the beginning, he is rushed to the praetorian guard who proclaim him emperor before the senate does (tac.) which fizzles out to them abandoning him at the end of his term; "he had been deserted by all without exception" (dio)
134
How was augustus influenced by women?
dio claims livia murdered marcellus and tac says she killed gaius and lucius - engineering succession
thus tiberius wa nominated (pliny - "he died with his enemy's own son as heir') suggesting she was not acting in his best interests or those if state
Later, julia married marcellus, agrippa and tib and was used to designate successor (suet) eventually giving tib legitimacy through blood
135
How is tiberius influenced by women?
Livilla supposedly kills drusus (dio) so that she can marry sejanus, which sejanus asks tiberius to do but is knocked back (tac.) - women open door to threat to power and corruption
And livia grooms him for succession
136
How does agrippina exhibit control over emperors?
she manipulated claudius to make nero his heir, not britannicus (tac) nad is accused to have poisoned him, this allowed her to groom nero for succession and she removed opposition for him (Tac. 12.69) - he also claimed she listened in on senate meetings from behind a curtain
136
Does tiberius face any difficulty on accession?
The mutinies in pannonia and germany which vell. pat skims over as a minor trouble quickly deposed by an experienced military commander (Tib) but Tac. uses as a device to compare him to germanicus and makes them seem like a big deal that he handles poorly
137
What was Gaius' accession like?
Quick and welcomed by the people - "in a single day he took all the honours which augustus had been slow to accept" (dio) and to the people, his accession "was like an answer to their prayers" (suet.)
138
What honours did Claudius accept after his accession, when he finally visited the senate after 30 days?
"he immediately accepted all the honours voted to him except the title 'father of the fatherland' and he took that later on" - dio, 60.3.2
Tib. denies same title, so does gaius because of his youth but then accepts later.
139
By Cassius Dio's time, how were powers conferred upon an emperor?
They were all lumped on them at once but earlier, it was a slow accumulation (think augustus and the settlements)
140
What is it in Augustus' power to do and why was this (constitutionally)?
"it is in my power to rule over you for life" - Dio, 53.4
The first and second constitutional settlements (27 and 23 BC respectively) meant that he was voted Absolute power (technically) he wanted this to look like it came from Auctoritas when it was reinforced by actual offices and powers
141
Were the senate willing to give Gaius power?
Yes, the senate "immediately and unanimously conferred absolute power upon him" (suet.)
142
Where did Claudius gain his power from?
The praetorian guard, since he was supposedly found hiding behind a curtain (Suet.) where he was then taken to the praetorian camp, held for 2 days, then declared emperor (it took 30 days before he went to the senate)
143
what did the senate do to end nero's reign?
they "declared him a public enemy and appointed galba emperor in his place" - dio
144
how was nero groomed for the principate?
nero was to hold the consulship at 19 and as consul designate, he was to be "prince of youth" - Tac. ann. 12.41
145
did 'training' for the principate lead to a better reign?
no, the opposite:
gaius was took under tib. wing and nero was groomed for the succession and they can be considered the 2 most damaging reigns by the sources; whereas the accidental claudius and the last in line tiberius respectively had the most successful and relatively stable rules, despite challenges to accession (claud with senate, tib with mutinies)
146
what indicated nero was destined for power over britannicus?
"the crowd seeing one in the trappings of command and the other in boys clothes could deduce their contrasted destinies" - tac 12.41
147
how did nero gain the principate over gemellus?
tib took gaius under his wing and despite never holding office before, he named gaius heir with gemellus - who was ignored because "they set aside Tiberius' will" - suet
148
why was claud both unprepared for rule but also effectively chosen because of this?
he had been relatively obscure prior to accession (except the fleeting positions under gaius) which when purging the imperial family he was able to hide without anyone caring or seeing him as a threat
this also made him inexperienced though and forced him to prove himself (allegiance to praetorians, britain campaign, aqueducts)
149
why was tib the best man for the job?
despite being portrayed as the last resort, he had been sharing aug's powers for a couple of years, was an experienced commander and had many victories - such as regaining parthian standards
150
what do the sources use imperial women as?
scape goats, eg messalina is shown to take advantage of and control claudius and nero was supposedly under agrippina's thumb
151
how was livia portrayed to run the state (positive way)?
"she was a peerless lady, in everything more like a goddess than a mortal being, who exercised her power only to help those in adversity or to enhance their rank and high position" - vell. pat
possible reason for her deification by claud?
152
What were all of claud's actions dictated by?
actions "were dictated by his wives and freedmen" suet
shows him to be weak and cuckolded
153
why was silanus killed and what does this show?
for refusing to have sex with messalina (dio 60.14) suggesting life, death and empire were in the hands of a woman (assisted by freedmen), not an emperor - both groups were immoral and unfit to rule
154
Who was behind Burrus' appointment to the praetorian guard?
Agrippina (dio), he later became a guiding hand and advisor in nero's quinquennium aureum
tis also gave her more influence over the guard and aided her to engineer nero into succession
155
how does poppaea taunt nero onto killing his mother?
she said "he was under his guardian's thumb (tac) which made him insecure and eager to dispose of her
156
how does tac show immorality and depravity of [imperial] women?
agrippina "several times appeared before her inebriated son all decked out and ready for incest" (tac) indicating she was prepared to break roman and religious law to acquire power
157
when are nero and agrippina presented as co rulers (archaeological)?
in the aureus of 54 they are seen on equal heights facing each other and she is presented as crowning him on the monument ina aphrodidias
158
how is poppaea presented in coinage and in josephus?
as an able political figure with great competeancy, unlike the depraved partner in crime as portrayed by dio and suetonius
159
How far does agrippina go to secure nero's succession?
"there is nothing she will not sacrifice to imperial ambition, neither decency, nor honour, nor chastity" (tac) she was pallas' lover, incestually married claud and engineered people like burrus to act as advisors once she had dispatched claudius
this all gained legitimacy
160
What did claudius do as a backup to ensure succession?
he used his daughter's marriages to gain successors in the forms of sons in law, even allowing them to take part in donations to the plebs (dio)
161
162
What shows that succession through famillial ties was still considered important in the piso plot?
Piso was supposed to marry antonia claudia (though this is unlikely) to aid his violent ascent with an ancestor of augustus (tac.)
163
What factors engineered nero into the succession?
- Agrippina marries claud.
- Claud adopts nero
- Nero very public, acts grown up (tac)
- Nero marries octavia, Claud's daughter (tac)
164
example of emperors blocking marriages to stop people forcing their way into succession and thus opposition?
"you are mistaken sejanus if you think that livilla... would be content to grow old as the wife of a knight" (tac)
Tiberius has awareness that this could give sejanus leverage to depose him and ascend
165
How did Gaius deal with women in the imperial cult?
He readily deified his family but often got confused and retracted this taking away from the authority of religious honours:
eg. deified grandmother then "forced his grandmother to commit suicide" (dio) and "he was unable to make up his mind whether he wanted his sister to be mourned as a mortal or worshipped as a goddess" (seneca)
166
What was Tiberius' take on divine honours for women?
although denying them for himself, in the gytheon inscription, he allows augustus to be deified and lets his mother decide whether she will accept or not
167
In what action did Claud emulate (good) gaius?
he "made the senate decree his grandmother livia divine honours" (suet)
168
How did animosity between the women impact the state?
"ill feeling among the women made things worse" (tac)
"The womens' rivalry is irrepressible" (tac) referring to livilla and agrippina's rivalry and Poppaea "nagged and mocked [nero] incessantly" (tac) resulting in the murder of agrippina
169
How high were the steaks regarding women's rivalries?
they had the capacity to destroy the empire:
"agrippina's ill-feelings will be greatly intensified if livilla marries: this would virtually split the imperial house in two" (tac.)
170
Where was power held under augustus?
it lay with him and not the senate and only began to be seeped to the eques, "the senators should be unarmed and unprepared for war" (dio) and senators and high ranking eques still needed permission to enter egypt (suet) - everything looked democratic but was actually autocratic
171
What was tib's method of governance?
"he referred all public business, however important or unimportant to the senators" (suet) he either wished the republic back or else wanted people to think he did - tac portrays him as hesitant and indecisive
172
How did different groups influence the running of state under claud?
his freedmen were supreme "he practically always obeyed their whims" (suet) and he had a relatively poor relationship with the senate due to his accession and his revision of the senatorial roll to include gauls and disappear senators (tac)
173
What is an example of Freedmen prospering under Claud?
pallas, treasurer, mentioned by pliny as one of the freedmen who became even richer than crassus as well as the allegations that narcissus was working with messalina (dio)
174
Who are seen as the main influences (usually negative) under the various emperors?
In tacitus' view:
- aug is more influenced by livia, Agrippa, rivals and illness
- tib is swayed by sejanus
- Gaius is insane and driven by cruel humour and sycophancy
- Claud is beheldent to wies and freedmen
- Nero is controlled by his wives, actors, racers, immorals and Tigellinus after the guidance of seneca, burrus and agrippina initially
175
how did Aug, gaius, claud and nero deal with food supply?
Aug. "did not decline in the great scarcity of corn the superintendence of the supply" (res gest) and he resolved the issue,
Gaius planned so poorly that when he died, there was only 8 days left.
Claud. built a harbour at ostia to bring in grain (suet) and nero cut the price of corn "to less than a sesterce a pound" (tac) and removed tax on merchant ships with corn (tac)
176
why is food surplus so key to success?
"a starving population is intolerant of reason" seneca
leaders have no control over unhappy people
177
how did aug, nero and claud deal with fires differently?
Aug. began the first nightwatch for fires (suet), Nero opened his gardens, rebuilt rome and began a new fire service (though he may have started it) (tac)
and Claud recruited people off the street with bags of gold to fight the fire in the aemelian quarter (suet)
178
How did aug use religion to his advantage?
he used the poets to encourage morallity and adherence to roman values: "Ancestral crimes, though innocent, you'll pay... till you restore their temples" (horace, odes)
179
how did nero and Gaius fair in terms of religious perception?
Nero was seen as depraved due to his theatrical and sexual deviances sow was immoral in traditional religious eyes despite playing the roles of gods and heroes (tac) and gaius "insisted on being treated as a god" (suet) but without deserving so this could also be considered unpious
180
What controversial legal reforms did aug. implement and what did they deal with?
He instituted marriage laws which dealt with "extravagance, adultery, and unchastity, bribery and the encouragement of marriage" (suet)
181
how did tib, gaius and claud deal with maiestas respectively?
tib "did not convince anyone of his republicanism. for he revived the treason laws" (tac)
gaius claims to stop the treason trials in 39 but kills many people with them (dio)
claudius "abolished the charge of maiestas" (dio)
182
who built the anio novus and what was said about it?
built by gaius to start with and finished by claudius;
"there has been no more remarkable achievement in the whole world" (pliny)
183
what did aug do regarding temples?
he restored 82 temples in 28 bc (res gest) and promised to set up "300 great shrines" (virgil)
184
What were clauds ambitious projects and what suggested they were to fail?
He attempted to drain the fucine lake and build a port at ostia (suet) to secure the food supply from egypt.
however, aug had turned down the request to drain the fucine lake and caesar had abandoned the ostia port earlier (suet)
185
how did aug make rome architecturally better?
"i found rome built of bricks; i leave it clothed in marble" (suet) and under his orders, agrippa constructed fountains, reservoirs and cisterns (res gest)
186
how do the different sources portray tibs building works?
vell pat claims he built "wonderful public buildings" including a temple to aug and the fatherland, restoring the theatre of pompey - he is a contemporary and as such may have an overly positive view.
tac maintains he was stingy and did no important works
187
what did josephus say about Gaius' public works?
he built "no great public buildings" and much of his projects were devoted to personal pleasure or were "half hearted" where he would get distracted, although gaius was tyrannical to the jews so josephus may be a little jilted
188
What did the great fire of rome allow/
it allowed nero to build the domus aurea (pliny) and let future emperors (ie hadrian) build impressive buildings
189
What did the rebuild after the great fire of rome show about nero?
"his wastefullness showed most of all in the archtectural projects" (suet), symbollically representing the likes of largesse and self interest like the collossus that was 120 ft tall - eventually rededicated to sol by vespasian
190
What are the allegations about the fire of rome?
Tac. suggests nero started the fire to rebuild parts of rome (men with torches stopped people putting out flames and aiding the fire claiming they were ordered) although he knows "whether it was accidental or caused by a criminal act on the part of the emperor is uncertain" but suet firmly maintains nero "brazenly set fire to the city"
191
how many times did aug revise the senate roll?
3 times as censor (res gest)
192
What did the first constitutional settlement do in 27 bc and what did this keep up?
"compelled him, as it seemed, to accept autocratic powers" (dio) while acting like he wanted to reject it.
his issuance of the consulship and proconsular imperium as his power base helped maintain the republican fascade and appeased the senate
193
Why did tib have such a bad relationship with the senate?
"he did not convince anyone of his republicanism; for he revived the treason laws" (tac) he just didn't have the personality or charisma to keep up augs act so got easily irritated and eventually gave up and ruled as a recluse through others
194
What shows the venom held by the senate towards Gaius?
"everybody kept stabbing him savagely, even though he was dead; some even tasted his flesh" (dio)
195
Why did claug have a rough start with the senate?
his power openly came from the praetorians, so when he did eventually come in after 30 days, he had them with him (suet) one of the key reasons for his fear is that they "thought that they would now be in control of government business" (jos) as there had been discussion about a return to republic
196
what suggests that people had finally had enough of nero?
"the senate appointed him public enemy and appointed galba emperor in his place" (dio) and "senators, knights, officers, even women competed to join" the piso plot (tac)
197
how was tib hostile/demeaning towards the senate?
he instituted maiestas trials which "cost the lives of more roman citizens than any civil war" (seneca) and was targeted at senators and he withheld rewards for them like how in 19 "camillus was voted an honourary triumph and lived so unnasumingly that he survived it" (tac) - full triumphs reserved for imp family - subservience to survive
198
How did gaius exercise cruelty towards the senate?
he "considered butchering the whole senate" (seneca), called them to prank meetings/performances (suet) and claimed to burn papers and stop maiestas trials but kills many with both (dio)
199
What shows claudius knows he's not supposed to be emperor?
he creates new patricians and deposes old and introduces gauls and foreigners to the senate (tac) as well as openly minting coins portraying debt to the praetorians - considered hostile to the senate
200
How does nero humiliate senators?
he forces them to act and perform, disgracing their lineage (tac)
201
Which two emperors were the most respectful to the senate?
claud and tib:
tib "reffered all public business, no matter how important or unimportant to the senate" (suet)
Claud allowed senators to self evaluate wealth and leave with dignity on their own (tac) and he sat "in court even on his own birthday" (suet)
202
When did the senate roll over to gaius?
they fear him so vote him the right to "celebrate a lesser triumph, as if he had defeated some external enemy" (dio) for bringing back the treason trials, which is wholly contrasting
203
what suggests nero and claud made the senate powerless?
"the senate was reduced to impotence" under claudius (jos)
regarding nero, after the death of agrippina in 59, he was the "proud conqueror of a servile nation" (dio)
204
How did gaius gain popular support?
"he pleased the rabble" (dio) with largesse, games and sharing what they liked.
They especially liked him when he "Would scatter vouchers among the audience entitling them to all sorts of gifts" (suet)
205
What were example of gaius' apparent despisement of the roman people?
he wished "roman people had one single neck" so he could kill them all with one blow (seneca) and when the plebs were petitioning against him to lower taxes at the circus, he had several publicly executed on the spot (jos)
both constitute either an extremely dark sense of humour or derrangement
206
How did Nero emulate gaius in winning popular support?
he held games and largess, so the people were "delighted the emperor shared their tastes" (tac), "presented the people with 400 sesterces each" (suet) and during games he would heap on gifts like farms, ships and vouchers via a wooden ball throwing lottery (suet)
207
Why were emperors considered a protector of the people?
they all had tribunician potests (core value) and they "acted as a curb for the senate's rapacity and were a source of protection for themselves" (jos)
it more resembled a large scale patreon client relationship from the early rep.
208
What happens when emperors don't have popular support?
conspiracies become more likely and revolt becomes a threat. the senate can be paid off, the provinces can be let go, but the people and army are intrinsically linked and if either are not on side, large forces, trained or untrained will make the life of emperor hell
209
why did the people resent nero in 68 and turn on him?
"he aggrivated popular resentment by profiteering in grain" (suet) and instead of rectifying the problem, lowering prices and bringing in more food, he didn't prioritise it.
this caused anger when the plebs found that a ship carrying sand from alexandria docked during a grain shortage - it should have been food (suet)
210
how were eques elevated under aug?
He allowed them to become treasurers and control provinces such as egypt (tac.) he allowed them to wear senatorial regallia (suet)
211
what kind of influence did poppaean and tigellinus have on nero?
"poppaea and tigellinus, intimate counsellors of the emperors brutality" (tac)
tac. is critical of tigellinus claiming he introduced him to all kinds of depravity before abandoning when his demise was inevitabe
212
In what way did Aug. irritate the eques?
he kept judging them and telling them how to act; eg chastising them for eating in public or wasting inheritance - to which the eques replied "i thought it was mine" (quintillian, the orators education"
213
examples of gaius and claudius' mistreatment of eques and why?
gaius would mistreat the eques, such as exiling them "in order to zeize their posessions" (jos)
claud "executed 35 senators and 300 roman equites" (suet) on the request of his freedmen
214
what shows that nero displeased the equites?
senators, knights, officers and even women competed to join" the piso plot (tac) implying he pissed all of them off
215
What does gaius do for the eques and why?
"since the equestrian order was becoming depleted" he allows wealthy men "from all over the empire, even from outside italy" to join the equestrian order and allows some to wear senatorial dress, hoping they would join (dio)
216
Who was galba?
the govenor of spain under nero and "the man who was proclaimed emperor by his troops" (dio)
217
how did the troops confuse who was to ascend after augustus?
they offered germanicus the throne but he refuses it claiming loyalty to tib, tib is weary of this showing the power the army had over succession even early on
(Tac) - even he was nominated because of his military background
218
how was military power/ reputation limited to the imperial family?
Blaesus was the last person to be granted the title of imperator outside the family - this stopped any outsiders gaining th credentials to challenge them with popular support (tac)
219
How does gaius seek military glory?
the denarius of 37 links him to germanicus and his military glory - associating him with office and command he'd never held
220
what can't be done without the army?
the emperor cant keep command, as seen in the vindex revolt and the murder of gaius - hence too why piso (syrian govenor) appeased the army with low discipline and bribery and was popularly called "father of the army" (tac); it diminished the risk of germanicus gaining army support over tib
221
Why did nero meet such a sticky end?
he had no military support, and no support of anyone for that matter: "he had bee deserted by all without exception" (dio)
222
How did aug secure the long term loyalty of the army?
he set up state pensions so they wouldn't rely on one general like in the rep, where even into tib. first mutinous days "guardsmen receive 8 sesterces a day, and after 16 years they go home " (tac)
223
under what guise dis Claud retain the support of the army for the principate?
a republican government "would certainly not govern in the interests of the army" (suet)
224
How did Claud keep support of the army and reduc opportunity for anyone else to seize it?
he "persuaded the senate to issue a decree forbidding soldiers to pay complimentary calls on senators (suet) and when he came to power, he gave each soldier 15,000 sesterces, making him "the first of the caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops (suet)
225
what does clausian coinage commemorate?
his reliance on the army and his accession with their support (jos, dio, suet)
226
how did agrippina use the praetorian guard to secure her own position?
she got rid of the two previous praetorian prefects believing them loyal to messalina and instituted burrus, who was "fully aware who's initiative was behind his appointment" (tac)
227
how does the loss of praetorian support result in the removal of an emperor?
the plot against gaius was lead by chaerea and sabinus (guard tribunes) over insults to their masculinity, who were helped by marcus clemens (prefect) - jos
228
what was one of the chief reasons for mutiny in 14?
"old men, mutilated by wounds are serving their thirteenth or fourteenth year" (tac) - they were paid poorly, lived in poor conditions and were not being discharged or paid off with land on time and saw the accession of tiberius as a good time to act (advantage of tumult)
229
what did the mutineers in pannonia and germany want and how did drusus and ger. deal with them?
soldiers wanted better pay, fixed terms of service and eventual release.
tac. implies that drusus dealt with the pannonians by sheer luck of the moon phases, whereas ger. handled the more dangerous german mutiny ("universal, silent fury") with diplomacy and tact
230
What were the differences between drusus' and ger. quelling of mutinies in 14?
vell. pat prefers drusus' "old-fashioned severity" (possibly because he was the violent tib.s natural son and had background as an ex-officer) to ger.s paying off and bowing down to troops
231
what are the differences between tac. and vell. pat.s account of the mutinies?
Tacitus’ account of mutinies is long and moralistic as he wanted to present Tiberius’s unpopularity. Velleius Paterculus skims over it and says that they were dealt with quickly due to Tiberius’ experience.
232
what was the imperial cult for and how did it change over the period?
served as a way for masses (particularly provincials) to understand powers of emperors and shifts form only worship of numen of aug in rome and slight worship in provinces to the living deification of Gaius as one of the pentates - tib and claud followed aug, nero just played them in plays
233
how did people get away with worshipping aug?
easterners who were used to pharaoh worship were allowed to set up temples to him, such as pergamum outside of rome (dio, tac.)
poems show numen and genius of aug being worshipped in rome which shows possibility of indirect worshipping cult in rome to aug (ovid) despite his insistence it shouldn't happen
234
how does Gaius dealings with the imperial cult change over his reign?
the emperor: "at the start of his reign, he forbade the setting up of any images of him" (Dio)
the monster: "he insisted on being treated as a god" (suet)
"set up in rome itself a temple of his own, granted him by vote of the senate" (dio)
235
How does claud respond to the imperial cult in the east?
he forbade worship in rome and in the east:
rejects alexandrians' petition to worship him, "temples and such forms of worship have been granted ny all ages to the gods alone", "you are by nature reverent towards the emperors" (greek papyri, Brit. museum)
236
How did Tac portray augustus' dealing with the imperial cult?
"there were no honours left for the gods, now that aug chose to be worshipped with temples and godlike images" - contrasts other sources (suet, res gest)
237
Why was the imperial cult so important?
it justified power to the emperors, hence why "caesar [tib] deified his father" (vell pat) and why gaius deified grandmother (dio) + sisters (seneca), claud deified livia (suet) and nero deified Claud. (aureus of 54)
they were divine because they were part of the imp family and they ruled because they were divine
238
what did claud do for livia once he took office?
"made the senate decree his grandmother divine honours" (suet)
239
how does nero link the imperial cult and family and why does he do this?
as a 16 year old, he had no other credentials to warrant becoming emperor other than ceremonial titles so he used his family and their divine links as legitimacy:
54 aureus shows claud deification - shows him divi fillius and pious, like augustus
similarly, "he promised to model his rule on the principles laid down by augustus" (suet)
240
how was the imperial cult beneficial for powerful citizens advancing their career?
by joining the cult, they hoped to show loyalty by giving their faith to the imp family - "all the richest citizens tried to gain priesthoods" (suet)
willing to give mind, body and soul to emperor
241
how did sycophancy through religious loyalty fail to endear senators to emperors?
a senator proposed a temple to the "divine nero" - he vetoed saying "divine honours are paid to emperors only when they are no longer among men" and he took this as a bad omen (tac)
in response to gytheon's request to worship, tib said "I myself am satisfied with more moderate honours suitable for men" (gyth. insc, 15 ad)
242
why did tac think the mutinies of 14 happened?
he blames the "change of emperor - troops taking advantage of first ever succession
243
What was any plot/ revolt a sign of?
discontent among the people and hence needed to be dealt with quickly
244
what happened as a result of nero's tax policies abroad even before the great fire in 64?
the provinces were unhappy because of tax - Britain revolted in 61 (dead king of norfolk's will ignored by nero and property seized as tax), judea in 66 (increased taxes for fire, pillaged temples) and gaul revolted with vindex in 68 for similar reasons (tac)
245
what shows that claud's power was not totally secure?
after gaius, other candidates considered for principate, incl. camillus scriboninus, who attempted a military coup (dio) and after hearing of messalina and silius' marriage, he runs to the praetorian camp asking "am i still emperor?" (suet)
example that emps. did not necessarily have full power and they knew this
246
what did suet think claud was more like to his freedmen?
"he seemed to be more like their servant than their emperor"
247
how does dio highlight the danger of being an emperor?
he gives a speech to agrippa, making him a mouthpiece about how being a sole ruler makes Aug a target but simply being a friend of his gives him all the perks with none of the risk
248
how does the danger of being an emperor often actualise?
they meet non natural ends, gaius and nero die at the hands of or because of senatorial conspiracies/ loss of support, claud is allegedly killed by agrippina (suet, dio, tac - suet does offer alternate stories but favours the agrippina murder) and tiberius was supposed to have been killed by gaius and pra. cmdr. Macro (suet, dio)
249
what were examples of plots by people in power to remain in power?
tib orders ger. death: "secret rumours that the emperors approval was not lacking" (tac) regarding pisos murder of him
livia allegedly kills marcellus (dio), gaius and lucius (tac)
250
how many times was aug named imperatpr?
21 (res gest)
251
what was the simple reason for tib.s accession?
he was an experienced commander and soldier and was the only one left - but germanicus could have done better (tac)
252
What was gaius constantly chasing and why?
military glory as it was needed for legitimacy - tried and failed to invade britain so claimed to have defeated neptune and brought back some seashells (dio)
on the denarius of 37 he links himself to great general germanicus because he'd never held office or command and family was his only link
253
Why was claudius' invasion of britain in 43 so successful politically?
it gave him military auctoritas and legitimacy when his physical state made it unlikely - "britain was the country where a real triumph could be most readily earned" (suet), even caesar had failed so he could argue he was a better commander than caesar
254
what did claud do in 49?
extended the pomerium as he had expanded the empire which was a good publicity stunt (tac) the last person to do this was augustus, whom he was trying to emulate
255
what was the reception to clauds victory in britain?
she senate "voted him the title britannicus" (dio) which was then passed to his son, signifying a big deal but suet. maintains that "it was of no great importance"
256
how did nero attempt to gain military auctoritas?
by building the triumphal arch and issuing the denarius of corbulo's successes and passing them off as his own
257
example of military auctoritas not mandatory for accession?
Gaius started with none so borrowed germanicus' and nero had none so played a little on claudius (by deifying him and claiming divi filiis) who only gained it after accession
258
How could military victory increase popular support?
it allowed emperors to hold triumphs (hence why no one outside the family could have them) and let the roman people see what good they brought:
aug was most famed for this, "caesar rode in triple triumph" (virgil) and the people "accepted his triumph with pleasure as though all the enemies conquered had been foreign" (dio)
259
how did nero try to emulate classic victory unconventionally?
he celebrated a triumph in 67 after returning from greece for his participation in the games and musical contests there - an artistic victory (dio)
260
where were the main sources of political success?
military successes, competent admin (low corn prices, building works, etc.), controlling the senate but still making them feel good about themselves and have power, dealing with threats before they arrive and giving the people a common enemy and by granting the people gifts, donations and largesse
261
what was augustus' method of centralising power?
Augustus’ rule was a “monarchy” [Cassius Dio 52.1] and a “despotism” (Tacitus).
“commandeering to himself the functions of the Senate, the magistrates and the law” [Tacitus]
262
how did claudius attempt to centralise power?
he moved lots of the functions of the government into his house but still, "se seemed to be their servant rather than their emperor" (suet)
263
in which contrasting way did aug and gaius control the senate?
Aug was nice: senators "enjoyed a wealth and status which had increased in proportion to their servility" (tac)
whereas gaius scared them: "it occured to me that i only have to give one nod and both your throats will be cut on the spot" (suet)
264
Why were senators servile to tiberius?
Tib has a “reign of terror where distinction meant death”, so senators chose “subservience” to survive. For example, in 17AD (after Tacfarinas) “Camillus voted was voted an honorary triumph and lived so unassumingly that he survived it” [Tacitus]
265
what showed that under the reigns of claud and nero, the senate was basically useless?
"the senate was reduced to impotence" (jos) under claud and under nero, they likened him to "proud conqueror of a servile nation" (tac) after the death of agrippina in 59
266
My favourite quote for how gaius deals with opposition?
"i have swords as well as islands" (suet)
267
how did tiberius famously control the senate?
maiestas trials, then used again by gaius, claud and nero, although initially instigated by aug. all after tib swore to end them but ended up bringing them back
268
how much did aug give to each man in rome and when?
HS 400 per man 3 times, 29bc, 24bc and 12 bc (res gest)
269
What was the great thing about the provinces?
the imperial cul thrived there, so except for parthia they basically looked after themselves and were happily subservient
270
what did aug let the people of pergamum do and why?
Augustus let the people of Pergamum in Asia Minor build a temple to him and Rome in 29BC, he didn’t stop them as the imperial cult could bind all peoples of the empire under imperial rule. [Tacitus]
271
did emperors have a problem with emperor worship in the provices?
not really, tib (gyth insc.) and claud (greek pap.) tried to dissuade them but they weren't overly bothered they just forbade it in rome
272
How did aug limit the powers of provincial govenors?
he appointed half the provinces to himself in the first constitutional settlement of 27 and half to the senate before appointing a mixture of prefects and governors to each set - particularly egypt was under his and his lap dog's sole command
273
what was the complaint of tib's handling of te mutinees?
"tiberius ought to have gone himself" instead of sending "2 half grown boys" (tac)
274
how did nero and claud keep control of and acquire new provinces?
they used other magistrates to do it for them since the two were deficient in military experience:
aulus plautius lead the british exped and then sent for claud when victory was certain (dio) and nero used corbulo to pacify armenia before passing the act off as his own on the denarius of 64's triumphal arch
275
how did claud use the support of the provincials within rome?
he added gauls to the senate which gave him allies against the 'haters' (dio)
276
why was it important for nero to attempt to please the provinces (which he didn't do)?
“The inhabitants of Britain [61] and Gaul [68] burdened by taxation, were also becoming more restive and inflamed.” [Dio] which lead to the vindex revolt, it did not seem serious as Vindex was governor of a Gallic province with no legionary garrison and there was no reason to doubt the legions under Lucius Verginius Rufus. revolt was only a problem once Galba was declared emperor by his troops and was supported by Vindex [Dio] Rufus’ troops want to make him emperor but he refers it to the senate [Dio]
ultimately his reign ends due to provincials
277
when did aug extend the pomerium?
27, 18, and 8 bc (res gest) which contributed to the military auctoritas he needed to rule as the ceremony would have been highly public and shown him as a great commander - also works when claud does it
278
Why, considering the empire's size did rome have so few provincial problems?
"imperial dignity - Which was, indeed more awe inspiring at a distance" (tac) - this also proves a little his bias
279
what shows that the provinces weren't completely under the emperors control?
Germanicus going to Egypt in 19AD without his permission was a serious challenge to his rule, even if he claimed to only be there for the province’s welfare. [Tac] - he didn't face any repurcussions out there and only got a slap on the wrist on his return
283
What shows gaius to be easily influenced by the people and impulsive?
“How about days racing, Caesar?” (Suet. )
Informality and forwardness shows he was ‘one of the people’ - distancing him from senate and aristocracy as a traitor to his class
284
How does Virgil present aug in the aneid ?
Divine ruler, supported by gods (at actium), presented as a hero on aneas’ shield
285
How does horace odes present aug at actium?
Deified avenger against evil foreigner cleopatra
286
What does Ovid fastii disclose about aug?
He’s worshipped at crossroads, linked to festivals and celebrations
287
What does the narbo alter suggest?
The worship of numen and genius of Augustus (different for east and west)
288
What is trip. Triumph coin for?
Victories at Dalmatia, Alexandria and actium
289
What does pax Augusta coin suggest?
Aug is peace bringer and closed gates of Janus
290
What do priestly coins suggest about Aug?
Present him as youthful, vigourous and strong
291
Why is Ovid so sycophantic?
Fasti is written after his exile as a gift to Germanic’s to get him returned home
292
What title does Ovid pick up on in fastii?
“Pater patriae, your country’s holy father”
293
How does Ovid compare Aug to Romulus?
“You were romes lord and master, he is simply princeps, our first citizen”
