The Second Settlement
23 BC
Why did it happen?
In late spring of 23 BC, Augustus suffered a severe illness and was put to his supposed 'deathbed'. He therefore handed Piso, his co-consul, all of his official documents, a public finance account and authority over all listed troops in the provinces. It was considered surprising that Augustus did not name an heir, as many suspected, to his position as unofficial emperor but rather gave properties and possessions to his designated heirs. An imperial inheritance would have provoked resistance and hostility amongst the Republican-minded Romans, whose customs made them fearful of monarchy and the excess of power of just one person.
The recovering Augustus took a will to the Senate, as he was aware of the general unpopularity of his dynastic plans, but they would not accept it. The First Settlement needed revision and Augustus believed that it was time to make a fresh start. On the 1st of July, he resigned from his position of consul and stated that he would no longer be a regular candidate for consulship because it stretched constitutional propriety too thin, took up a lot of time (business, ceremonies, etc.) and was irritating potential political applicants. He would only serve as consul again in 5 BC and 2 BC.
Augustus had resigned as consul, but he retained 'imperium' which led to a second compromise between him and the Senate. This was the Second Settlement.
The recovering Augustus took a will to the Senate, as he was aware of the general unpopularity of his dynastic plans, but they would not accept it. The First Settlement needed revision and Augustus believed that it was time to make a fresh start. On the 1st of July, he resigned from his position of consul and stated that he would no longer be a regular candidate for consulship because it stretched constitutional propriety too thin, took up a lot of time (business, ceremonies, etc.) and was irritating potential political applicants. He would only serve as consul again in 5 BC and 2 BC.
Augustus had resigned as consul, but he retained 'imperium' which led to a second compromise between him and the Senate. This was the Second Settlement.
Tribunicia Potestas
'Tribunicia potestas' (Tribunician powers) was awarded to Augustus for life. This meant that he:
- regained the power to bring in laws and motions before the Senate.
- got the right of introducing the first motion in any Senate meeting.
- had the right to the tribunician veto (but likely never used it as he would approve motions before they reached the Senate).
- received magisterial power to force citizens to obey his orders.
- got the power to aid citizens oppressed by other magistrates.
Augustus required the legitimacy of these powers, rather than these powers themselves and it was convenient that tribunician power had traditional influence in the protection of the plebs. This would have worked well for Augustus' image campaign with the plebs.
As well as these powers, Augustus received powers that were normally reserved for the censor:
- right to supervise public morals.
- right to scrutinise laws to ensure they were in public interests.
- ability to hold a census and determine membership of the Senate.
An example of which was that Augustus banned all other attire except for the toga from being worn in the Forum, thus appealing to the virtues of Roman patriotism.
- regained the power to bring in laws and motions before the Senate.
- got the right of introducing the first motion in any Senate meeting.
- had the right to the tribunician veto (but likely never used it as he would approve motions before they reached the Senate).
- received magisterial power to force citizens to obey his orders.
- got the power to aid citizens oppressed by other magistrates.
Augustus required the legitimacy of these powers, rather than these powers themselves and it was convenient that tribunician power had traditional influence in the protection of the plebs. This would have worked well for Augustus' image campaign with the plebs.
As well as these powers, Augustus received powers that were normally reserved for the censor:
- right to supervise public morals.
- right to scrutinise laws to ensure they were in public interests.
- ability to hold a census and determine membership of the Senate.
An example of which was that Augustus banned all other attire except for the toga from being worn in the Forum, thus appealing to the virtues of Roman patriotism.
Provincial Powers
'Imperium proconsulare maius' - translates to 'power over all the proconsuls'. Gave Augustus the authority he has in his own provinces and legions and meant that he could interfere legitimately in the provinces controlled by the Senate. He was the only individual able to receive a triumph as he was the head of all Roman legions and Tiberius was the only exception as he received a triumph in 7 BC for victories in Germania.
Sole 'imperium' (power) in Rome - Granted sole power within the city of Rome so could control all armed forces in Rome. they had previously been under the control of prefects and consuls.
Sole 'imperium' (power) in Rome - Granted sole power within the city of Rome so could control all armed forces in Rome. they had previously been under the control of prefects and consuls.
Plebeian Reaction
22 BC: Augustus did not run for election for consulship so fears arose that Augustus was being forced from power by the aristocratic Senate.
22 BC, 21 BC & 19 BC: Riots in response to Augustus' lack of consulship and only allowed a single consul to be elected each year in ordered for Augustus to take the other position - he didn't.
22 BC: Food shortage in Rome started a panic. Many urban areas asked for Augustus to receive dictatorial power to sort this out, and after a 'theatrical display' of refusal, Augustus accepted control of Rome's grain supply and ended the shortage almost instantly. It has been argued that Augustus deliberately created the food shortage to appear to the plebs as their 'saviour'.
22 BC, 21 BC & 19 BC: Riots in response to Augustus' lack of consulship and only allowed a single consul to be elected each year in ordered for Augustus to take the other position - he didn't.
22 BC: Food shortage in Rome started a panic. Many urban areas asked for Augustus to receive dictatorial power to sort this out, and after a 'theatrical display' of refusal, Augustus accepted control of Rome's grain supply and ended the shortage almost instantly. It has been argued that Augustus deliberately created the food shortage to appear to the plebs as their 'saviour'.
Senatorial Reaction
19 BC: Allowed Augustus to wear consul's insignia in public and in the Senate and was allowed to sit in the symbolic chair between the two consuls and hold the fasces, which was an emblem of consular authority.
18 BC: Proconsular power renewed for a further five years after end of ten-year agreement from First Settlement.
August made Agrippa almost co-regent through the renewal of the award of proconsular power and the award of tribunician power.
18 BC: Proconsular power renewed for a further five years after end of ten-year agreement from First Settlement.
August made Agrippa almost co-regent through the renewal of the award of proconsular power and the award of tribunician power.
Suetonius"He received offices and honours before the usual age, and some of a new kind and for life. He held his second
consulship nine years later, and a third after a year's interval; the rest up to the eleventh were in successive years, then after declining a number of terms that were offered him, he asked of his own accord for a twelfth after a long interval, no less than seventeen years, and two years later for a thirteenth, wishing to hold the highest magistracy at the time when he introduced each of his sons Gaius and Lucius to public life upon their coming of age. He did not begin all his consulships in Rome, but the fourth in Asia, the fifth on the Isle of Samos, the eighth and ninth at Tarraco". "He received the tribunician power for life, and once or twice chose a colleague in the office for periods of five years each. He was also given the supervision of morals and of the laws for all time, and by the virtue of this position, although without the title of censor, he nevertheless took the census thrice, the first and last time with a colleague, the second time alone". "He twice thought of restoring the republic; first immediately after the overthrow of Antony; and again in the weariness of a lingering illness (23 BC), when he went so far as to summon the magistrates and the senate to his house, and submit an account of the general condition of the empire. Reflecting, however, that as he himself would not be free from danger if he should retire, so too it would be hazardous to trust the State to the control of more than one, he continued to keep it in his hands". "The whole body of citizens with a sudden unanimous impulse proffered him the title of Father of his Country: first the commons, by a deputation sent to Antium, and then, because he declined it, again at Rome as he entered the theatre, which they attended in throngs, all wearing laurel wreaths: the senate afterwards in the House, not by a decree or by acclamation, but through Valerius Messal". |
Res Gestae Divi Augusti"Dictatorship was offered but I refused it" (22 BC).
"Perpetual Consulship was offered but I refused it" (22 BC). "In 19, 18 & 11BC offered sole consulship but would not accept any office inconsistent with ancestors". Talks about how much people love him and about how games and prayers offered in his name. States he was given tribunician power for life and sacrosanctity. "I transferred the republic from my power to the dominion of the senate & the people". (Given the title 'Augustus' for this and receives the civic crown). States how after the First Settlement, "I excelled all in influence ... although I possessed no more official power than others who were my colleagues in the magistracies". Notes that he was awarded the title 'pater patriae' in 2 BC. |