Augustus: Establishment of the Principate

Establishment of the Principate: Booklet 1 Impact of the death of Caesar Government of Rome, under the republic: ?Senate governed Rome ?Corsus Honorum- political ladder of offices Consul > Praetor > Political offices voted for by public Aedile > Quaestor > Army services- 10 years Impact on Octavian: •Treated him like a son, groomed him as heir, military experience •Danger to O after death, assassinated for his dictatorial behaviour •When he found out, he didn’t go to Rome straight away (danger) wen to Italy •In will, O had been named heir A. H. M jones- no danger to Oct only wanted to rid Rome of Caesar •Return to Rome for inheritance •Reinforced position by raising two legions (5000 each)- veterans of retired Caesar, loyalty and closeness. Needs to match to C and show why C made him heir (prove himself) •We don’t know how he was feeling, but though that ‘a furious hatred for the murderers of his beloved… great uncle’. When he was heir must have a duty of vengeance •Felt robbed of the hopes of a career under C patronage As Caesar’s son he commanded support from soldiers and veterans •Frosty reception from Antony, who denied access to C fortune. O borrowed money to pay off C bequest to the Roman people and celebrate games > increase pop. •Filial piety = loyalty to father, family and ancestors •The games coinage with image of comet which confirms Caesar’s divine status > made Oct ‘divus filius’ > son of god Impact on Rome: •Upset, C was pop by Rome •Initially calm, C assassins expected normal government to resume. Antony and Marcus Lepidus remained untouched •Assassins perceived him as dictator and threat to republic.

After Rome was sent into turmoil for murdered, who had no future plans and though death would lead to restorations of the republic •David Shotter- meant little more than the nobility would be free to resume their self- indulgent lifestyle •Left a power vacuum in Rome •Political support- situation was unstable one side there were the supporters of the conspirators against Caesar, on the other side there were Caesar’s men (M+A) who had the people and the majority of the tribunes behind them. •The question remained- what was to be done about murderers of Julius Caesar? Early Career of Octavian: Gaius Octavian was born on the 24th September 63BC into a wealthy and respected family •Mother Atia, niece of Julius Caesar •She later married th aristocratic L. Marcius Philippus who proved to be a good step father to Oct providing the young boy with a solid if rather old-fashioned education •When 11 he gave a speech at his grandmother’s, Julia, funeral •Caesar was impressed with the boy’s abilities had him elected to the college of pontiffs and allowed him to take part in his African triumph when Oct was only 16 •He was a dedicated boy who suffered bouts of illness throughout his life. Sickness prevented him from going to Spain in 46, accompanying Caesar •Although he soon followed even though still not feeling well •Caesar was impressed and was from then made his will in favour of Oct •In preparation of his planning for the campaign against the Parthians, Caesar appointed Oct to his staff and sent him to Macedonia to complete his education and also receive military training •O took with him a friend, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who until his death in 12BC was to remain O’s loyal friend and supporter Oct attempts to secure is inheritance: •Didn’t know that he was heir until returning from Italy •Parents suggested that he shouldn’t accept but he not only accepted, but changed hi name to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus •He now had to aims: Avenge his father’s death Prove himself worthy of such a father •As he moved around Italy, C veterans and friends welcomed him – he would have to be cautious to meet his ends •Cicero did not trust him, he wrote in a letter to Atticus; “… there are too many around him.

They threatened death to our friends and call the present state of affairs intolerable” •O received a cold and hostile welcome from his father’s friend Marc Antony when he arrived •Antony blocked O attempt to have his adoption legalised and would not hand over Caesar’s money •Oct borrowed money in order to honour father’s legacy > gained him pop. and has games at his own expense •Antony probably didn’t perceive O as a serious political rival – Jones Octavian’s temporary collaboration with the Republicans: •Two broad categories: republicans and Caesarians

Republicans: Brutus and Cassius > left for the east to raise troops, Cicero > returned to R to lead the senate against Antony Caesarians: Antony> laid a siege to Brutus at Mutina, Oc > rebuffed by Antony, appealed to Caesar’s veterans and seduced 2 of Antony’s legions •43BC Cicero decided to use Oct for a republican cause > in doing so speaks favourably of him •Raising an army like O did was illegal, however Cicero decided to look past this Oct first consulship: •Defeated A in Gaul he was now an enemy (with republicans) •Senate tried to discard Oct O realised that now the republicans were in command, his fathers murderers that he would have to take vengeance •He was consulship so that allowed him to gain leading position of the Caesarion party •Senate and Cicero continued to reject O demands > used 400 centurions to march to Gaul and demand that their commander be given the consulship •When this was resisted, O marched with Rome’s legions •He was elected in 43BC with his cousin Quintus Pedius they revoked the decree outlawing Antony and legalised the adoption •Oct had achieved his immediate objectives Now planned to meet B+C in battle The Second Triumvirate: Members: Antony, Lepidus, Octavian Five years- length of appointment Purpose of alliance: to set the state in order and to attack the republican armies of B+C in the east Power of T: Absolute- pwers of a dictator without the name The right to nominate all magistrates in advance Territory controlled: A- Transalpine & Cisalpine Gaul, L-Narbonese Gaul & Spain, O- Africa, Sicily & Sardinia First task undertaken: campaign of proscription ?Purpose? Confiscate estates in order to have money and land for the troops ? Destroy their enemies ?Results? ?Death of 300 senators ?Inc. death of Cicero ?Escape republicans Further activities: Julius Caesar fully deified, Lepidus appointed consul for 42, preparations made for A+O to face B+C in Macedonia Civil War: Battle of Philippi, 42BC: •After proscriptions, a campaign made to avenge murder •The Caesarion faction finally completes the avenging of the murder of Caesar •Faction found itself in control of 60 legions Path to Civil War: At first it seemed that A to control of the east. = rich in resources •O received Italy (heart of the empire) •Sextus based in Sicily Interfered with the trading in Italy – grain supplies and refuge for opponents of the the T. •Defeted Lucius Antonius, 41BC and Sextus Pompeius, 36BC •Make an example of his control •Argued that A was succumbing in relationship with his mistress Cleopatra •Republicans taken refuge with S, allowed them to return to Italy Showed the Roman virtues(merciful) •Claimed credit for their rehabilitation Events provided material for O propaganda •Undesirability of the union- A and chief victim was A wife and O’s sister, Octavia •Shotter says that O’s marriage to Livia Drusilla was “one of the most important decisions of his life” •Oct, leader of Caesarion faction was now the Champion of the republicans •The west were being prepared for a war that was not portrayed as the civil war Battle of Actium- Consequences and Significance: Significance: -O was now supreme ruler of the Roman world -Egypt added to a new province of the Roman Empire Wealth was added -Victories lead the civil wars to a decisive end -29BC O closed the doors of the Temple of Janus in Rome > new era of peace was brought to the empire Source 1- coin: •Proclaiming E has been taken •Croc means that -Creation of financial stability -No acceptance of exceptional honurs or powers -Use of propaganda to promote a new era of peace -No vengeance in the form of proscriptions exacted against enemies -Emphasis on interest in traditional and conservative activities -Provision of diversions and employment for the people