Augustus is known by many for his successful rule over the Roman Empire and the extended periods of peace during his reign. However, little is known about his role as a political strategist that aided his rise to power. Augustus used various strategies to ensure his military strength yet still maintain favor with the people as discussed below. Augustus’ role as a political strategist is first seen when he initially gained access to the political hierarchy of Rome. His first act was to demand funds that had been allocated for war. He used these funds to raise an army against Mark Antony who was considered the greatest enemy by the Senate at the time (Everitt 7). Since Augustus had limited finances, he knew that one of the simplest ways to gain power was through acquiring wealth and another way was through acquiring a great army. With this move Augustus was able to kill two birds with one stone. His actions were not questioned since they seemed to be in line with the interests of Rome (Everitt 7). Augustus’ implementation of political strategy is also seen again after the defeat of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi. He was left with numerous soldiers ranging in the tens of thousands who he was afraid would ally with his enemies if not taken care of properly. He made the decision to displace the Roman populations so as to allow the soldiers room to settle (Everitt18). This brought him a lot criticism and dissatisfaction but as long as it guaranteed him military strength,
With the coming into view of the second settle. Augustus was granted the power of Maius Imperium which allowed him unlimited dmilitary control. He than was granted of civil authority. This allowed him the ability to do law making, the power to call for the senate, the ability to make the first movement at any meeting over representatives of a country and most importantly - he has sacrosanct (Place or too important) and untouchable. This meant that Augustus was free from prosecution, and was extremely clean protection for him. Uncoincidentally, Augustus has did not talk about or say his Maius Imperium throughout the Res Gestae. This was done so to maintain Augustus image as ruler for the people, by people, calming them his powers were not treated or used in a very mean, unfair way. While his statement does not point to or show the basis of his
In the year 63 B.C Augustus became the first emperor of Rome, after the assassination of his adoptive father Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Augustus raised an army at the age of 19 to overthrow the tyrant leader Mark Antony, whom gained power of Rome after the assassination of Julius Caesar. After overthrowing the tyrannical system, Augustus liberated his father, and was offered dictatorship by the people of Rome. Augustus rejected the title of dictator on more than one occasion; he instead titled himself princeps civitatis: the first among citizens. In his reign Augustus completed many building projects, including the repair and rebuilding of aqueducts, roads, and sewers that had been neglected over time. The expansion of the Roman Empire under Augustus was extensive, stretching from Egypt to Spain including
In “The Deeds of the Divine Augustus” Augustus portrays Rome as a dignified cut above the rest. In this reading, we learn about the ruling of Augustus and how he feels entirely responsible for all the successes of Rome. I believe that this writing is not a display of the “real Rome” but rather a depiction of its author. Throughout “The Deeds of the Divine Augustus” Augustus repeatedly refers to himself in the text and how all these successes are a result of his leadership. An example of this is when Augustus states, “In my nineteenth year, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army with which I set free the state, which was oppressed by the domination of a faction.” There are
There are other interpretations claiming that the citizens of Rome and senators saying that it wasn’t a plan however, it was Augustus spiritually wanting to give his power to the Senate. Moreover, After Augustus has been issued with a very serious illness. Augustus decided diverse basis to not have the authority for the consulate and to presume instead of these two powers, proconsul authority over the whole empire, which the senatorial provinces and the city of Rome, and Tribuncian power, which is now appearing in his titles. Therefore, the illness of Augustus in 23 BC, he was very treated because after his death there had to be a successor to his power who was able to control and run the system, most likely a successor which was from his family. Julia, was the only daughter from three of his marriages, he had to make his daughter marry his nephew, Marcellus, then to a trusted friend of his, Agrippa. Tiberius, the son of Gaius and Lucius, Augustus adopted him (stepson), whom his adoptive father Julius Caesar, after the death of Augustus was adoration as a god. Agrippa was a blessing for
Have you ever waged war against your wife? Caesar Octavian Augustus did. Augustus was a great leader. Leaders are necessary because they need to show leadership amongst the people and unite the people as one doing anything to keep them safe. Caesar Octavian Augustus was one of Rome’s greatest leaders by showing that at the age of 19, he can rule one of the most powerful nations by any means including war (http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/augustus.html)
He was a very hostile man, and didn’t want the fame that an Emperor should receive. II. Augustus was the very first and was considered to be the best Emperor of Rome. His uncle, Julius Ceaser, was his guardian and sent Octavian to learn under Aplollodurus who was a distinguished
He had now reached a state of political perfection. A state he arguably and narcissistically deemed necessary to establish a Rome of greater equality, efficiency and profitability, a state in which he could covertly dictate. The Principate was made a permanent establishment; his rule would only end in death. Changes were still required, past mistakes must be corrected, time was poor. His mission was nearing completion. Rome was now under the autocratic rule of Augustus, the senate and the people were none the wiser. The republic was far from restored, the republic could not be restored, the republic was flawed. The people and the senate must not know.
Augustus cared alot about details and made sure he was to be remembered for his great actions. Everything he worked for was handled with dignity and firmness, he said himself that he hoped to be "called the author of the best possible government." He stabilized the boundaries of the empire, provided for the protection on the frontiers, reorganized the size of the army, and created two fleets to form a Roman navy! He made sure this was all administered to a vast empire. He undertook the repair of all 82 temples in Rome and built many new ones. As I already mentioned, he reconstructed the Forum and it was later completed in 40 years. Something he was also quoted saying was, "I found Rome in clay and leave it to you in marble." He didn't only
On the 23rd of September 63BC a baby boy was born. Little did his family know that this amazing child was going to be one of the greatest politicians in Rome, he was also going to touch the lives of many Roman Citizens and to be remembered by thousands of people many years after his death. He was to rule an empire that stretched from Spain to Judea. Turn the Mediterranean Sea into a peaceful Roman Lake and was eventually to be worshipped as a god. The future Emperor of Rome was called Gaius Julius Octavious, whom we all know now as Augustus.
Augustus, during his reign as emperor proved effective in ruling through the ideas he implemented to solidify his country. Tacitus stated “nullo adversante” which translates into English “Wholly unopposed” (http://janusquirinus.org/Quotes/QuotesHome.html) this identifies the effectiveness of his reign and the strength he had politically over Rome. Important actions such as the creation of religious and moral reforms, the constitutional agreement and the implementation of the building programme all succeeded in creating stability within the Roman Empire.
Augustus' familial ties with Caesar are perhaps most important in his ascension to power. While just a boy he had no public image or standing therefore he had no power according to Roman culture. He was not recognized as anyone of importance in the eyes of the senate or citizenry of The Republic. However when taken under the wing of Caesar, one of the most powerful and loved men in all of Rome, he marches with him in the victory parades of Caesar's military conquest of Africa, Rome's newest conquest which included Egypt and it's infamous Queen Cleopatra. He also accompanied Caesar into battle in his final conquest of Spain. These events placed Octavius into the spotlight of public life where according to the Roman ideologies of courage, bravery, strength, loyalty, military conquest, glory and honor he won their praise and acceptance. He was also a noted scholar, tactician and aristocrat; a gifted orator, he embodied everything it meant to be a citizen of Rome, honorable, courageous, brilliant and cunning.
Augustus received the tribuncian power for life and assumed the role of protector of the Roman people. He also received the right to intervene in those provinces administered by the Senate. The backbone of Augustus’ power came from being Imperium of the military. It was of great importantance
Today Augustus is emperor and his rule is bringing us a lot of much needed peace (The early emperors). He is bringing back the peace from the now corrupt republic and trying to restore it. Augustus is turning Rome from brick and local stone to marble(department of greek and roman art). This is creating a lot nicer buildings and keeping them intact longer than before. Every now and then we have some amazing achievement in science and right now the empire is funding roads and weapons for the army (Gascoigne). We now will have started expanding and getting allies. We are trying to extend the empire to and beyond Germany but when the army couldn’t do it they pulled back in frustration (Gascoigne). This must be a really frustrating defeat for Augustus
Julius Caesar was a Roman statesman who lost it all to foolishly becoming a dictator with king like qualities. Caesars great-nephew, Augustus (then Gaius Julius Caesar) inherited through his late great-uncle, a civil-war torn, distressed country. Throughout the next 40 years from the beginning of Augustus’ reign in 27 BCE to his death in 14 AD, he transformed Rome into a place of great peace. Peace in Rome lasted from 27 BCE to 180 AD, long after Augustus’ death because of the development of the Principate, the reconstruction and social reform of Rome and the Pax Romana. Augustus’ Empire was undoubtedly the most important Empire in Roman history and the peace Augustus created was his greatest achievement during his reign.
Two problems facing the late Roman Empire was the instability and non unification caused by inner family civil wars. Rome's rapid expansion, after the Punic Wars, resulted in changes that permanently divided the state. Both Aristocrats and Plebeians wanted total control of Rome and tried to destroy each other. Civil war was the the only way to solve problems in politics. Consequently, the power of the military became strong. Control of Rome's armies changed from the government to the generals because the soldiers began to listen to their generals rather than to the Government. On dismissal from military service, the soldiers had no farms to return to, and they