Why Did Augustus End Election Disturbances
The third settlement was created by Senate as an attempt to end election disturbances. In 19BC, the senate left consulship up for Augustus while he was away. A Roman, Egnatius Rufus, attempted to stand in but was denied. Rufus then turned to violence and threats, which was later resolved when Augustus returned to vacate the last consulship through recommendations. This election disturbance showed how strong his auctoritas was. Augustus had the ability to control the voters to vote for his reccomendation. In order to stop disturbances, senate gave Augustus Consular Potestas. This gave Augustus consul powers for life without being consul. This meant Rome would still elect two consuls every year.
As Consular Potestas, Augustus could override
the two consuls. This was not republican because in the cursus honorum, consul was the highest role you could get in the magistrates. This meant the two consuls should have greater power, yet Augustus’s role as a Consular Potestas overrode them. This was dictator like as he could influence the decisions of the consuls. Augustus could also put laws foward. This was also not republican as in the government of rome, Assemblies were the only group that could pass the laws. This was done to seperate the powers of passing laws and creating them. Giving Augustus the power to put foward law meant that he could create laws in order to restore the republic with the secret intention of securing himself as the sole ruler, while using his auctoritas on Rome to agree with him. In Horaces poem of Odes 3.3, it states that “By these means Pollux and wandering Hercules, in their effort, reached the fiery citadels, where Augustus shall recline one day.” In this poem, Horace says Augustus will be deified just like how Pollux and Hercules were. This was not republican as this showed that it was apparent that Augustus was godly. This was dangerous for Augustus as being worshipped as a god was beyond any honours a republican would have accpeted. Julius Caesar was assassinated for accepting honours beyond the republican norm, which worsened this idea of being godly as the poem was written during Augustus’s reign.
As Consular Potestas, Augustus could override
the two consuls. This was not republican because in the cursus honorum, consul was the highest role you could get in the magistrates. This meant the two consuls should have greater power, yet Augustus’s role as a Consular Potestas overrode them. This was dictator like as he could influence the decisions of the consuls. Augustus could also put laws foward. This was also not republican as in the government of rome, Assemblies were the only group that could pass the laws. This was done to seperate the powers of passing laws and creating them. Giving Augustus the power to put foward law meant that he could create laws in order to restore the republic with the secret intention of securing himself as the sole ruler, while using his auctoritas on Rome to agree with him. In Horaces poem of Odes 3.3, it states that “By these means Pollux and wandering Hercules, in their effort, reached the fiery citadels, where Augustus shall recline one day.” In this poem, Horace says Augustus will be deified just like how Pollux and Hercules were. This was not republican as this showed that it was apparent that Augustus was godly. This was dangerous for Augustus as being worshipped as a god was beyond any honours a republican would have accpeted. Julius Caesar was assassinated for accepting honours beyond the republican norm, which worsened this idea of being godly as the poem was written during Augustus’s reign.