The First Settlement
27 BC
How did it happen?
In 27 BC, Octavian received his seventh consulship, again serving alongside Agrippa. However, on the Ides of January (13th), he resigned from his position. Cassus Dio claims that he said "I lay down my office in its entirety and return to you all authority, absolutely". Once he had done this, protests crescendoed and after a show of great reluctance by Octavian, he was persuaded by the Senate to accept an 'unusually large' province for 10 years. The Senate gave him new honours; the name 'Augustus' and the title 'Princeps'.
This happened due to his wide support in the Senate; leading men from Gaul and Spain were now recruited as Senators. they saw their own fate to be linked closely to Augustus' new regime. He also made many other alliances by funding impoverished and arranging marriages with nobles. This meant that he had an enormous clientela.
This happened due to his wide support in the Senate; leading men from Gaul and Spain were now recruited as Senators. they saw their own fate to be linked closely to Augustus' new regime. He also made many other alliances by funding impoverished and arranging marriages with nobles. This meant that he had an enormous clientela.
Powers
In Res Gestae Divi Augusti, Augustus claimed to have given up all his powers by 27 BC, he states: "I transferred the republic from my power to the dominion of the Senate and the people of Rome". This effectively anulled the power of the Second Triumvirate. Cassius Dio suggests that Augustus waqs offered the role of dictator for life or consul for life but Augustus rejected this.
Name
'Augustus' - this was Latin for 'augere' (meaning to increase). It can be translated as 'the revered/illustrious one'. It symbolised a stamp of authority and went beyond any constitututional definition of his stats. It was power linked to people and nature so non-political, and it had no precedent.
'Princeps' - originally was the oldest senator whose name would appear first on the Senate lists and who would speak first at Senate meetings. It became a regal title for a leader/first in charge. It had precedent, both Marius and Pompey had been given the title.
'Imperator Caesar Divi Filius' - Augustus began ti style himself as 'Commander Caesar, son of the deified one'. It showed the custom of 'mos maiorum' as it boasted of his familial link to the deified Julius Caesar, thus making him the 'son of a god'. The use of 'Imperator' signified a permament link to the Roman tradition and values of a militaristic society, it showed the search for klẽos (glory and worthy).
'Princeps' - originally was the oldest senator whose name would appear first on the Senate lists and who would speak first at Senate meetings. It became a regal title for a leader/first in charge. It had precedent, both Marius and Pompey had been given the title.
'Imperator Caesar Divi Filius' - Augustus began ti style himself as 'Commander Caesar, son of the deified one'. It showed the custom of 'mos maiorum' as it boasted of his familial link to the deified Julius Caesar, thus making him the 'son of a god'. The use of 'Imperator' signified a permament link to the Roman tradition and values of a militaristic society, it showed the search for klẽos (glory and worthy).
Provinces
Despite Augustus' claims to have given up on his claim on territories, he retained Egypt, Cilicia, Cyprus, Gaul, Spain and Syria, which contained most of Rome's legions. Syria and Gaul had the highest number of legions due to their need to combat the Parthian threat and hold-back the Germanic tribes respectively. These provinces also gave the opportunity for Augustus to expand Rome's borders. The provinces also gave Augustus other important things; Spain had raw materials, such as an abundance of silver, and Egypt was wealthy and produced most of Rome's high demand of grain, which was provided free to the plebs of Rome, thus meaning that he would remain popular with the masses.
In 22 BC, he gave Cyprus and Gallia Nabonesis back to the Senate and in 11 BC, he took over Illyria.
As Augustus was serving as consul in Rome, he sent Senators to the provinces as his representatives to manage provincial affairs and ensure his orders were carried out. On the other hand, the provinces controlled by the Senate had governors chosen by it, but had control over just North Africa, Illyria and Macedonia. North Africa was an imprtant regional producer of grain but the other two provinces were of only minor strategic importance so only had a few legions. With control of just five or six legions amongst three senatorial proconsuls, the Senate's control of these regions did not cweigh up to a serious political or military threat to Augustus as he had the control of twenty legions.
Everitt suggests that "the Senate's control over some of the Roman provinces helped maintain a republican faҫade for the autocratic Principate". However, Augustus' control of provinces for the objective of restoring peace and creaqting stability had precedent from the Republican-era, with the likes of Marius and Pompey.
In 22 BC, he gave Cyprus and Gallia Nabonesis back to the Senate and in 11 BC, he took over Illyria.
As Augustus was serving as consul in Rome, he sent Senators to the provinces as his representatives to manage provincial affairs and ensure his orders were carried out. On the other hand, the provinces controlled by the Senate had governors chosen by it, but had control over just North Africa, Illyria and Macedonia. North Africa was an imprtant regional producer of grain but the other two provinces were of only minor strategic importance so only had a few legions. With control of just five or six legions amongst three senatorial proconsuls, the Senate's control of these regions did not cweigh up to a serious political or military threat to Augustus as he had the control of twenty legions.
Everitt suggests that "the Senate's control over some of the Roman provinces helped maintain a republican faҫade for the autocratic Principate". However, Augustus' control of provinces for the objective of restoring peace and creaqting stability had precedent from the Republican-era, with the likes of Marius and Pompey.
How was it seen?
Augustus boasts in Res Gestae that he "transferred the Republic from my control into that of the Senate and People of Rome" and that he "would not accept any office inconsistent with the custom of our ancestors". However, most Romans were not deceived by these claims, in reality, they knew that Augustus' power rested on force but the constitutional settlement had given him legitimacy as well as a signal for the return to law and order. Everitt claims that it transformed a bankrupt and incompetent polity into an effective government system, law, wide participation and control.
Although the Senate and the People were the sole source of legal authority, Augustus did not hand back any real power. He was in a dominant position due to the army and it was with deliberate purpose that Augustus received the provinces that gave him control of twenty legions. Augustus had also inherited both Caesar's and Antony's clientela and no other Roman could come close to this large web of associations and allegiances.
"After this time, I exceeded everybody in authority". Res Gestae.
Although the Senate and the People were the sole source of legal authority, Augustus did not hand back any real power. He was in a dominant position due to the army and it was with deliberate purpose that Augustus received the provinces that gave him control of twenty legions. Augustus had also inherited both Caesar's and Antony's clientela and no other Roman could come close to this large web of associations and allegiances.
"After this time, I exceeded everybody in authority". Res Gestae.