(Drivebycuriosity) - "The king is dead, long live the king!" The traditional proclamation, used to announce the immediate transfer of sovereignty from a deceased monarch to their successor, describes also a pivotal phase in the history of the antique Rome. In the year BC 44 Julius Caesar got assassinated, but his death made the way free for Imperator Augustus, the first of a long row of Roman Caesars. The impressive biography "Augustus - First Emperor Of Rome" by Adrian Goldsworthy describes the development of Rome`s first Imperator and how the Roman republic turned into a hereditary monarchy ( amazon).
Imperator Caesar Augustus divi filius
Imperator Caesar Augustus divi filius declared: “Who could be found more magnanimous than I – not to mention again my deceased father – who more nearly divine? For I – the gods be my witnesses! – who have so many gallant soldiers, both Romans and allies, who are devoted to me, I who am supreme over the entire sea within the pillars of Hercules except for a few tribes, I who possess both cities and provinces in every continent . . . when you are all at peace . . . and, greatest of all, are content to yield obedience, I in spite of all this, voluntarily and of my dominion and give up so vast a possession”.
Augustus`stellar career was only possible because of the chaos in the Roman commonwealth during the first century BC and would have been unimaginable in earlier times. But he also was a creation of Julius Caesar himself, who adopted his grandnephew and gave him his name. At eighteen Caesar`s grandnephew ceased to be Caius Octavius and instead became Caius Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar promoted his protege further by giving him important military commands and finally made him the principal heir in his will.
Augustus did not have the multiple talents of his foster father; he lacked the qualities of an orators, he did not become a successful advocate and was not an eloquent writer, but he was extremely ambitious & unscrupulous and became a very successful warlord. Along Marcus Antonius (Shakespeare`s Mark Antony) he was at the head of the bloody revenge campaign against Brutus and other Caesar assassins and later beat his competitor Antonius in a savage civil war and drove him to suicide.
Goldsworthy writes: "At some point – perhaps not until the murder of Julius Caesar – Octavius/Augustus determined to be first in the state, and everything he did was directed to this end. Power was not supposed to be inherited at Rome, but armed with his sponsor`s name he rallied the dead dictator’s supporters and proclaimed his intention to assume all of his foster father’s offices and status.To achieve this he had no hesitation in resorting to violence, and so in the years that followed he killed and terrorized, switching alliances as it suited the moment. Ambition was in the blood of any Roman aristocrat, but never before had it been quite so untrammelled by convention nor so openly aimed at winning permanent unrivaled supremacy – but then never before had someone been heir to Julius Caesar, dictator for life and laden with honors greater than any Roman had ever received in the past. The situation in which the young Augustus found himself was as unprecedented as his actions, but his motivation at the very least had strong roots in the traditions of his social class".
The Wider Good
Augustus` activity was devoted solely to the immediate end of winning power and defeating his enemies, and probably left no time for anything else. During these years he advertised his connection with Julius Caesar, celebrated the latter’s achievements, sought vengeance for his murder, and at the same time acquired power for himself. Later, in the thirties BC, he began to show more concern for the wider good, beginning to repair and add to the monuments and infrastructure of Rome, and to regulate the food supply of the City. Once again this was sensible politics, but the dedication with which he continued to act in this way was far more than the desire for immediate popularity. Augustus pursued power ruthlessly,
Till the end of his long live Imperator Caesar Augustus remained a warlord whose dominance of the state was based ultimately on his control of far greater military force than anyone else. By modern standards he was and would remain a military dictator, even if he always carefully avoided the title in its Roman sense. For all the display of resigning his powers and reluctant acceptance of the duties pressed on him by the Senate at the start of 27 BC, no one could compel him to do anything as long as he continued to monopolise military power. The legions were his, and the Senate had no real say in how they were run, nor did it any longer control the raising and disbanding of these and other army units.
It was up to Augustus and his advisers to decide on the size and shape of the army they would maintain. They needed to judge how many soldiers were necessary to secure his position against potential Roman rivals as well as how many were required to maintain the empire, defending and, where it was desired, expanding the provinces. The two were closely related. Imperator meant ‘victorious commander’ and it would be seriously damaging to Augustus’ reputation and auctoritas if the empire appeared weak to its foreign neighbors and began to suffer reverses on the frontiers or within the provinces.
In spite of Rome`s military power Augustus did not try to expand the empire. He decided against the conquest of the English Island, displaying the same caution that deterred him from risking war with Parthia, the power in the East, unless it became unavoidable.
Since Augustus was blessed with a very long life he was able to transform large parts of Europe. Under Augustus widespread cultivation of vines and wine-making began in Gaul, while manufacturers of ceramics responded to the demands of a growing market by establishing workshops in Gaul itself. Use of coinage based on the Roman standard, already widespread in the south, extended over a wider area, fostered particularly wherever the army was based and legionaries inclined to spend their wages.
Begin Of A Dynasty
Augustus held supreme power for forty-four years.
In this time had gone from the
angry avenger of a murdered father to the unifying elder statesman and
‘father’ of the Roman world. His long life empowered him to start a dynasty and a long line of Roman Casesars. His adopted sons shared his popularity and
were being prepared for high office. His daughter – and only actual
child – proved less willing to play the part given to her by her father.
Following the model of his foster father Augusts promoted his wider family, especially his nephew Caius Claudius Marcellus, the son of his sister Octavia. After Marcellus`sudden death Augusts adopted Triberius, the first son of Julius Ceasar´s wife Livia Drusilla, and gave him important offices and provincial commands and named him his principal heir. After Augustus`death Triberius was given powers to those of the princeps (like Julius Caesar & Augustus) and smoothly succeeded Augustus in AD 14.
The Caesar is dead, long live Caesar!
