Similarities Between Augustus And Julius Caesar

Augustus terminated the dying democracy he inherited and instituted a monarchy that lasted for over 500 years, whereas Caesar had attempted to create a monarchy but failed as he was assassinated in 44 B.C. This essay will examine three ways in which Augustus succeeded where Caesar did not. Primarily, Augustus eliminated all his enemies, which ensured he was not assassinated. In contrast to this, Caesar had chosen to show clemency to some supporters of Pompey, two of which, Brutus and Cassius were then leaders of a group of conspirators who assassinated him. Secondly, Caesar did not portray his rise to power as being in line with the values and laws of the Republic constitution, which left senators disaffected, which eventually led to him being
It also ensured that all potential political enemies would be crushed, so that they could not conspire to assassinate him in the future. Indeed, his callous attitude towards the elimination of his enemies was further corroborated by Suetonius. He asserted that Augustus was the harshest Triumvir, as ‘he prosecuted it with more determined rigour than either of them. For whilst they were often prevailed upon, by the interest and intercession of friends, to show mercy, he strongly insisted that no one should be spared’ (Augustus, 27). This shows how ruthless Augustus was, and as he had seen the fate of Caesar it is likely that he was determined not to make the same mistakes as Caesar. The triumvirs were successful in eliminating many senators and political rivals through proscription, including Cicero, one of the surviving constitutionalist republicans. According to Appian ‘The number of senators who were sentenced to death and confiscation was about 300, and of the so-called knights around 2000 (Civil Wars, 4.2.5). The fact that Augustus eliminated a third of the senate shows how successful he was in eliminating his rivals. Furthermore, the elimination of potential rivals in the senate allowed the triumvirs to place men loyal to them in their place. This allowed Augustus to institute
Furthermore, Augustus carried out actions within the boundaries of the laws and values of the Roman Republic. Caesar did not do so, and therefore the senate began to conspire against him as they realised he would need to be eliminated if they were to ever regain power. Caesar showed such contempt for the senate to the extent that, according to Suetonius, Caesar claimed that the “republic is nothing but a name, without substance or reality. Men ought to consider what is becoming when they talk with me, and look upon what I say as a law” (Julius Caesar, 77). This demonstrates that Caesar was now bypassing the senate and attempting to dictate the law, thus becoming increasingly autocratic. Therefore, Caesar clearly believed that he held all the imperium, and did not care to abide by republican principles and as a result some senators became disaffected as they were losing their grip on power. Eventually the senators decided that their only option left was to assassinate Caesar. Many senators were appalled by the removal of their power and Caesar seemingly having deserted many republican principles was the last straw (Boatwright, Gargola, and Talbert, 2004, pg. 291). As a result, on 15th May, Caesar was assassinated by around sixty members of the senate. In comparison, Augustus took care in ensuring that all of the powers he acquired were granted by the senate