With Did Augustus Create His Essay Example

his image and gain popularity among his people. According to Suetonius, Plancus argued that the title "Augustus" was more honorable because sanctuaries and other places consecrated by the augurs are referred to as "august." This implied that such places would experience an increase in dignity. Plancus supported his argument by citing a line from Ennius' Annals: "When glorious Rome had been founded, by augury it became august." Octavian fought alongside Julius Caesar in Spain and later joined Mark Antony in battles in Philippi and Macedonia, seeking vengeance for the assassination of Caesar.

He gained military success at a young age and sought to achieve prominence in battle by assuming the role of General. He established the second triumvirate alongside Antony and Lepidus. They divided the regions of influence among themselves - Antony took charge of the eastern provinces, while Lepidus governed Africa. Given the considerable support for Antony in Rome, Octavian took control of the western provinces. To solidify their alliance, Mark Antony married Octavian's sister, Octavia. The triumvirate crumbled after Antony bequeathed his Roman territory to his children with Cleopatra in his will. As a consequence, the famous Battle of Actium ensued, in which Octavian defeated Cleopatra and Antony. Egypt subsequently became incorporated into the Roman Empire and played a crucial role as a fertile region for exporting grain.

Octavian received praise for his accomplishments in saving Rome from starvation and expanding the Roman Empire. In his Res Gestae, he states, "I added Egypt to the Empire of the people." Suetonius confirms this claiming that "Augustus turned the kingdom of Egypt into a Roman province" and took measures to increase its fertility and grain production for

the Roman market. Augustus further expanded his rule by acquiring additional land in the Balkans, the East, and Gaul, acting as a peacekeeper. This solidified his image as a leader who brought wealth and territory to Roman citizens while defending against potential invasion from the Egyptians. The fact that he had saved the Romans from starvation demonstrated his genuine concern for their well-being and contradicted any accusations of self-interest. Augustus was attentive to their needs.

During his reign, Augustus received numerous titles that aimed at presenting Rome as a Republic. One of these titles was 'Imperator' (emperor), which acknowledged his position as the most influential figure in Rome. By adopting this title, Augustus showcased how he had transformed the state from a dictatorship reliant on military force into a Republic. As time went on, he preferred to refer to himself as 'Princeps' ('first citizen among equals'). This proved to be a successful move as it emphasized the Republic status of Rome. Additionally, Augustus succeeded by not establishing a court and refraining from calling himself 'Rex' (King), which would have symbolized an absolute rule. He stated, 'I possessed no more official power than others who were my colleagues in the several magistracies.'

'This was a political masterstroke, as he had no more power than the others as a consul, but he is not mentioning that he had several other titles, which gave him far more power than anyone else. Augustus maintained his popularity by declining to take titles which were seen as negative. He refused the dictatorship, so that he seemed to be maintaining a Republic, and ruling for the good of his people, not for himself; "The

dictatorship was offered to me by both senate and people in my absence and when I was at Rome... but I refused it." He was careful what military positions he held, as he did not want to be seen as more powerful than others, showing he was a Republican leader. Augustus was given a ten year provincial command, during which he removed senatorial proconsuls. He then replaced them with 'subordinate legates', which meant he had control of the territories.'

He also possessed 'Proconsular Imperium' for thirty years, preventing civil wars or revolts against him, and held the consulship for several years. However, in the second constitutional settlement, it was claimed that he was obstructing others from attaining the position due to his long tenure, leading people to conspire against him. By voluntarily resigning, he demonstrated a lack of power hunger and thwarted any potential uprisings. He was granted 'tribunica potestas', which strengthened his bond with the people, granting him both civil and military authority to control the tribunes by exercising his 'veto' power ('I forbid'). This association with the people led to an increase in his popularity. Following various calamities, supposedly resulting from his absence, he was requested to assume the consulship once again in 19BC.

Augustus was given the lifelong title and did not actively seek the position, which would have made people view him favorably. In 'Res Gestae', Augustus claims that he showed mercy to all citizens who requested it, portraying himself as a just man. However, the document does not mention the proscription, a violent act where 300 senators and 200 knights were killed. This action solidified the alliance between Augustus, Lepidus, and Mark

Antony - the Triumvirate ruling different parts of the Roman Empire - and eliminated their enemies. This negative aspect of Augustus' character could be interpreted as him being power-hungry. Additionally, he was involved in another proscription targeting 120 enemies, seizing their money to pay his troops. This suggests that he did not want anyone who could pose a threat to his position. The closing of the Gates of Janus in Rome signified peace in the city.

During Augustus' reign, the gates were closed three times. Augustus stated, 'It was the will of our ancestors that the gateway of Janus Quirinus should be shut when victories had secured peace by land and sea throughout the whole empire of the Roman people... tradition records that it was shut only twice, but I was the leading citizen the senate resolved that it should be shut on three occasions.' People viewed Augustus favorably, seeing him as a peace-loving emperor. The Altar of Peace, or the Ara Pacis, was consecrated in 13 BC by Augustus. It was a celebration of his victories in Spain and Gaul and served as a reminder to people that he had brought peace. Furthermore, Augustus expanded Rome's territories. He said, 'I recovered all the provinces beyond the Adriatic sea towards the east, together with... I had previously recovered Sicily and Sardinia.'

Augustus used his military successes to justify his wars, promoting the belief that peace could only be achieved through his military power. He enlisted Rome's greatest writers, such as Virgil, Ovid, Horace, and Livy, to create promotional material for his regime. Virgil's Aeneid specifically praised Augustus' rule and implied the necessity of expanding Rome through warfare

in order to establish peace. In the Aeneid, Jupiter grants Augustus unlimited power. Additionally, Horace criticized Cleopatra in his writings, describing her as power-hungry and a threat to Rome by declaring that she believed herself to be a god while in the city, leading to its eventual destruction.

Here, Augustus is portrayed as an image enhanced by his victory over Cleopatra, which removes a threat to Rome. Cicero's 'Philippics' lauds Augustus and criticizes Antony. Horace compares Augustus to a god, emphasizing his strength and competence. Horace's Odes 3:5 1-4 declares, "We believed that Augustus, like the thundering king of heaven, would be a present god on earth due to his conquests that include Britain and Persia." Aeneas receives new armor from Venus, which depicts the battle of Actium on the shield and symbolizes Augustus's triumph over Antony and Cleopatra.

Augustus not only demonstrated his success in war but also provided justification for the civil war. Aeneas' father guides him through the underworld, revealing the future great individuals who would be born if he establishes Rome. Among them, Augustus is mentioned, prophesying the expansion of Rome under his rule. Furthermore, the strategic use of coinage played a crucial role, as every person in Rome would handle coins at some point. Augustus utilized his coins to depict representations of divinity, often referencing the god Apollo whom he credited for military victories, such as the Battle of Actium. This portrayal emphasized his religious devotion and respect towards the gods, further strengthening his image within the Roman society.

The text suggests that Augustus' association with the god of war highlighted his success in warfare. According to Paul Zanker, all of Augustus' goals

and objectives, both during his conflict with Antony and in the establishment of a new order, could be linked to Apollo. Apollo, known for discipline and morality, served as a symbol for Augustus. By depicting himself in statues resembling Apollo, Augustus further emphasized his connection to the gods and maintained his image as a war-like figure. However, it is worth noting that Augustus should be cautious not to align himself too closely with the deities, as Julius Caesar had done so and suffered a decline in popularity as a result.

Suetonius recounts an incident where Augustus, at a private banquet, dressed up as Apollo. Some may see this as him portraying himself as a god, which might have diminished his carefully constructed image. Apart from this, Augustus undertook various developments such as constructing roads and enhancing the fire services and night-policing. He often stated that he discovered Rome built with bricks but left it adorned with marble, highlighting his commitment to the city and its inhabitants. By not inscribing his name on the new structures, he aimed to convey his modesty and emphasize that his efforts were meant for the people rather than himself. Nevertheless, his contributions to improving the lives of the citizens would always be remembered whenever they gazed upon the city, further enhancing his reputation.

He organized theatrical performances and gladiatorial games for the enjoyment of his subjects. Additionally, he constructed the temple of Apollo as an expression of his commitment to the religious traditions overlooked by Julius Caesar. Augustus actively engaged with the gods by erecting temples for them, thus forging a connection with the common Roman citizens who practiced the same faith.

This bolstered his public image and garnered support from devout individuals. The presence of Augustus' 'Res Gestae' inscribed on stone tablets within the temples served as a reminder of his devotion to religion. Recognizing that religion could be used to exert control over the populace, Augustus exploited their fear of punishment from the gods in the afterlife for not leading virtuous lives.

Augustus assumed the role of 'Pontifex Maximus' after the death of Lepidus. This acceptance contributed to the cultivation of his public image. "When the people offered me the priesthood that had belonged to my father, I refused to replace my living colleague as Pontifex Maximus. However, after several years and the demise of the individual who had opportunistically claimed this position during a period of civil upheaval, I eventually assumed the role." By assuming this priestly role, Augustus demonstrated his commitment to duty, family, and Rome. During this time, Augustus downplayed his association with Julius Caesar, who had declared himself a deity.

Both Virgil and Horace portrayed Augustus' power as divine, but he refrained from being deified to avoid offending the senate. Augustus enacted the 'Julian Laws' to instill moral reforms and project Rome as a stable nation. In order to protect his reputation, he decided to send his daughter Julia away, as her behavior, including violating marriage laws and engaging in affairs, posed a threat to his career. By taking this action, Augustus demonstrated his adherence to the established rules. According to Suetonius, there were even discussions of executing Julia, who spent five years confined on an island prison.

Marriage held significance in the Roman world as it facilitated the procreation of children. By promoting

marriage, Augustus demonstrated care for his people, leading to his title 'Pater Patriae,' signifying his position as the head of Rome's 'household' and presenting him in a fatherly manner. When he was honored with this title, Augustus reportedly exclaimed, 'I have achieved my highest ambition,' as recorded by Suetonius. Among all his titles, this one greatly enhanced his image, depicting his concern for the well-being of those under his rule. Additionally, Suetonius reveals that Augustus had numerous extramarital affairs and was a prolific gambler throughout his life, aspects which Augustus intentionally omitted to preserve the desired perception of himself. Skillfully employing propaganda and military might, Augustus effectively bolstered and maintained his image during his reign. He projected an image of a leader who acquired all his titles as accolades bestowed upon him by the Senate. In reality, he meticulously controlled events to favor himself. He was seen as a champion of Roman traditions and was often viewed as a Republican leader."

However, he held absolute control as the leader and did not share power with anyone in a Republic. He feared that others might challenge him, hence denying them any power. It can be argued that his image played a crucial role in his long-lasting rule, as any scandals or lack of manipulation would have caused him to lose power.