Evaluate the Settlement of 27 BC (Augustus)
Evaluate the Settlement of 27BCE
The primary concerns of Octavian were the glory of the empire, the glory of Rome and most-importantly self-preservation. In January 27BCE Octavian announced to the Senate that he was renouncing all his powers and provinces, placing them at the disposal of the people, an attempt at ‘restoring the Republic. The results of this can be seen to fulfil Augustus’s concerns, reflected in his retention of high status and importance as well as increased safety in his position.
This decision to “restore the Republic” can be seen to have been hastened by Marcellus Licinius Crassus’s claim of the military honour of the spolia opima. Octavian’s realisation that he required no military rivals is believed to have caused him to deny Marcellus’s claim, stating that the battle in which this honour was earned was in fact unauthorised by the Senate. As essentially the sole triumvir after defeating Marcus Antonius in the Battle of Actium (31BCE) his total military, political and civic power drew distinct comparison with the ill-fated rule of his great uncle and predecessor, Julius Caesar. This in turn with Crassus’s claim provided Octavian with reason to incur the settlement.
Thus, in January 27BCE Octavian announced in the Senate his renouncement of all powers, his Res Gestae stating “at a time when with universal content I was in complete control of affairs, I transferred the republic from my power to the domain of the Senate and people of Rome.” However the Senate refused his total resignation, granting him pro-consular imperium (despite his remaining consular status) and seemingly begrudgingly he agreed to undertake administration of a large imperial province for ten years, containing the ‘administratively difficult’ provinces of Syria, Gaul, Egypt and Spain (except for Baetica). In these provinces he held the right to personally appoint provincial governors (called propraetors regardless of their previous rank) and these were generally also
The primary concerns of Octavian were the glory of the empire, the glory of Rome and most-importantly self-preservation. In January 27BCE Octavian announced to the Senate that he was renouncing all his powers and provinces, placing them at the disposal of the people, an attempt at ‘restoring the Republic. The results of this can be seen to fulfil Augustus’s concerns, reflected in his retention of high status and importance as well as increased safety in his position.
This decision to “restore the Republic” can be seen to have been hastened by Marcellus Licinius Crassus’s claim of the military honour of the spolia opima. Octavian’s realisation that he required no military rivals is believed to have caused him to deny Marcellus’s claim, stating that the battle in which this honour was earned was in fact unauthorised by the Senate. As essentially the sole triumvir after defeating Marcus Antonius in the Battle of Actium (31BCE) his total military, political and civic power drew distinct comparison with the ill-fated rule of his great uncle and predecessor, Julius Caesar. This in turn with Crassus’s claim provided Octavian with reason to incur the settlement.
Thus, in January 27BCE Octavian announced in the Senate his renouncement of all powers, his Res Gestae stating “at a time when with universal content I was in complete control of affairs, I transferred the republic from my power to the domain of the Senate and people of Rome.” However the Senate refused his total resignation, granting him pro-consular imperium (despite his remaining consular status) and seemingly begrudgingly he agreed to undertake administration of a large imperial province for ten years, containing the ‘administratively difficult’ provinces of Syria, Gaul, Egypt and Spain (except for Baetica). In these provinces he held the right to personally appoint provincial governors (called propraetors regardless of their previous rank) and these were generally also