The Augustan Age 44 BC-14AD

The Augustan Age 44BC-14AD
The significance of the settlements of 27BC and 23BC were important as they helped Augustus establish his power and gain complete control of Rome.
The settlement of 27BC initially began on January 13, 27BC when Octavian announced to the Senate he would lay down his supreme power. Augustus says “I transferred the state from my power to the control of the Roman Senate and people”. The importance of this quote is that it highlights that the Republic was being restored. Ensuring that Octavian who have the support of the public “He seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians. Indeed, he attracted everybody’s goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace. Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the Senate, the officials, and even the law. Opposition did not exist “as said by Tacitus
Although Octavian had laid down power he was still able to win power back from the Senate and people. With the extreme precision of these events of the laying down of power Octavian was able to gain two major powers which gave him control of Rome. The three major powers that Octavian received were a proconsularship,princeps senatus and consulship from the Senate. The significance of Octavian’s proconsularship or Imperium Proconsulare was that it contained the greatest power at the time, the military. Through Octavian’s Imperium Proconsulare he was able to gain control of Rome’s military forces which were located in Spain, Gaul and Syria. The reason which can justify for this “special power” can be clarified by the Senate who stated that “the Senate could not control soldiers and that member of the Julian family was more suitable due to past experiences (Julius Caesar’s reign) with the military. Imperium Proconsulare was crucial in the establishment of Augustus’s power and supremacy of Rome also the benefit of this power that is was granted legally by the Senate and people. Octavian also had the princeps senatus to his powers as he was able to place himself on the top of the senatorial list.
Shortly after during a period of peace Octavian claimed the Republic was restored “under his authority”. However two quotes by Ancient Historian Tacitus says “Practically no one had ever seen truly Republican government” and “the country had been transformed and there was nothing left of the old fine Roman character”. These quotes by Tacitus imply that the Republic was not restored in the settlement of 27BC and that Augustus still had supreme power. As a result of this announcement Octavian was granted many honours. These honours include the decking of the posts and lintel of his door with laurel and oak leaves, a golden shield that was placed in the Senate and the food and wealth acquired from Egypt during the defeat of Antony. However the most significant honour which Octavian was granted was the name Augustus derived from the word “auctaritas”. Also the name had great cultural and spiritual significance as it reminded the Romans of many important Roman figures such as: Romulus and augusto augurio.
As a result of the events of the first settlement, Augustus was now able to regain supremacy and complete control of Rome once again a sole ruler. Tacitus says “Political equality was a thing of the past; all eyes watched for imperial commands”. This quote by Tactius helps draw the conclusion Augustus still had complete control of Rome during the settlement of 27BC.
During 27BC Augustus had believed his presence was needed in other provinces therefore he left Rome to visit the western provinces of Gaul and Spain. During 25BC Augustus developed a serious illness. Also the following year of 24BC Marcus Primus, a proconsul of the province of Macedonia began warfare with the neighbouring province of Thrace without the commands of the princeps and Senate, he was condemned with treason. In 23BC Augustus once again fell desperately sick and a conspiracy possibly with some relation to Marcus Primus had developed involving Fannius Caepio and Murena. Ronald Syme says “The conspiracy of Murena and the illness of Augustus were a sudden warning. The catastrophe was near”. The significance of this quote highlights that Augustus was being confronted by death through possible assassination. Pat Southern says “His monopolisation of the office excluded others from ever attaining it, and without the experience of government and the elevated rank the senators were no doubt beginning to feel deprived of the chances of advancement”. Also Pat Southern also says “He was fully aware of animosity that had developed between the Senate and Julius Caesar”. These two quotes by Pat Southern show that Augustus had sole power over Rome, however the conspiracy, animosity with the Senate and illness seemed to be associated with the catastrophe.
Augustus was fearful of assassination and animosity developed between Julius Caesar and the Senate. This is shown through a quote by Tacitus which says “If illness or assassination failed to carry him physically, there was always the threat of political manoeuvring. He had to be vitally aware of what men were thinking, and if possible pre-empt their actions or meet them half way”. As a result of this event “In July 23, having recovered from his illness... Augustus gave up his consulship” as said by Pat Southern. The significance of Augustus laying down his consulship was that it looked like Augustus was restoring the republic however Augustus had cleverly thought a head and had powers which could compromise for his consulship. “Recognising this, Augustus may have made an attempt to retain his power as consul, whilst still opening up avenues for senators to further their careers, by proposing that there should always be two colleagues when he was consul himself. Suetonius gives no date for this proposal, which is often associated with the events of 19, but the context of 23 is the most likely, representing an attempt at compromise before finally giving up the consulship in return for other powers”. This quote helps understand that Augustus was well aware that with the laying down of his consulship he would need powers to compromise meaning that he not only was allowing more opportunities for senators but Augustus himself was trying to find some alternative source. Pat Southern stats “It is certain that he would not have done so without first ensuring that there was an alternative source of power.
The settlement of 23BC was a significant as Augustus was able to establish his basis of power and gain complete control over Rome. The settlement of 27BC was considered to be a period where it was solely dominated by Augustus, had administrative weaknesses and patricians weren’t satisfied as they could reach the position of consul. A quote by Pat Southern can further justify the reason for the second settlement “His monopolisation of the office excluded others from ever attaining it and without the experience of government and the elevated rank the senators were no doubt beginning to feel deprived of chances of advancement”. This quote helps identify a major reason that lead to the second settlement. Also this quote can possibly highlight a reason for the conspiracy of Murena.
Although Augustus resigned his consulship he wished to stop this practice, so that many others might be consul...he won praise by resigning...Cassius Dio says. “It is certain that he would not have done so without first ensuring that there was an alternative source of power ready for him to assume”, Pat Southern. The particular outcome of this event favoured Augustus as his proconsularship was redenied as maius imperium. Maius Imperium was a one of two major powers that Augustus obtained as now he could override any provinces which were already governed by a proconsul. Along with control of the military Augustus could now intervene at all provinces and ultimately control the empire as the military resided with him.
The second power that gave Augustus control of Rome was tribunicia potestas. Tribunicia potestas gave Augustus a high public profile as this power represented the people of the plebeian class. Tacitus described this power as the most important feature for the princeps and as a result of Augustus gaining this power he stepped down from consul. Along with this power Augustus was also granted the use of tribune’s veto. This power allowed Augustus to override any laws being passed by the Senate along with propose laws from the plebs.
With the gain of these powers no Augustus could lay down his power on consul and senate. No further constitutional changes had been made following the second settlement for two centuries. Augustus was also granted the honour of mere privates. Pat Southern says “He was also granted the exemption from having to lay down his powers when he crossed the pomperium to enter Rome as a mere privates. This meant that Augustus would still have power when entering Rome.
Above all however Augustus says “I excelled all by virtue of my auctoritas; of actual powers I possessed no more than my colleagues in the individual magistrates”. The importance of this quote can help clarify the outstanding significance auctoritas had when Augustus was establishing his power and how he supposedly excelled over his colleagues and gained supreme control of Rome.
In conclusion the significance of both the settlements of 27BC and 23BC were that it helped Augustus establish his basis of power and can complete control of Rome. A quote by Pat Southern which can conclude how Augustus developed this power; “Augustus had arrived most successful basis of Imperial rule, and had managed to do so without inventing anything too disturbing or too outlandish. His powers were rooted in Roman custom, but tailored to fit the circumstances”. This shows that Augustus used loop holes in Roman politics to obtain powers legally. This is also the major significance of the settlements of 27BC and 23BC as Augustus used these loop holes to establish his basis of power and become an imperial ruler of Rome.