BC30-11 Octavian becomes Emperor Augustus
In my first twenty years, from 30-11 BC, Octavian (pictured) -- the adopted son of Julius Caesar -- transformed the Roman Republic into a despostic regime, the Roman Empire, with him as Emperor Augustus.
Octavian had bribed Antony's legions in Greece, Asia Minor, and Cyrenaica to his side and on his march towards Egypt received the submission of local kings and Roman governors along the way. He finally reached Egypt in 30 BC, but to avoid capture first Antony and then Cleopatra committed suicide.
On his triumphant return to Rome Octavian took control with the full consent of the Senate and citizens tired of never-ending civil wars and incompetent and unstable government.
He designated governors loyal to him to the dangerous "frontier" provinces -- where the majority of the legions were situated -- and purged the Senate, refilling it with his supporters from the provinces and outside the Roman aristocracy.
He was careful, however, to leave Republican institutions intact -- consuls continued to be elected, tribunes of the plebeians continued to offer legislation, and debate still resounded through the Roman Curia.
By 27 BC the transition was complete and in that year Octavian offered back all of his extraordinary powers to the Senate which it refused and titled him Octavian Augustus -- the revered one.
Augustus arranged for his 14 year old daughter to marry his 17 year old nephew in 24 BC, but the young man died and later he made her marry his step-son Tiberius.
Once Octavian named Tiberius as his heir, it was clear to everyone that the Republic was not going to be restored, and by the time Augustus died very few people existed who remembered a time before an Emperor ruled Rome.
Octavian had bribed Antony's legions in Greece, Asia Minor, and Cyrenaica to his side and on his march towards Egypt received the submission of local kings and Roman governors along the way. He finally reached Egypt in 30 BC, but to avoid capture first Antony and then Cleopatra committed suicide.
On his triumphant return to Rome Octavian took control with the full consent of the Senate and citizens tired of never-ending civil wars and incompetent and unstable government.
He designated governors loyal to him to the dangerous "frontier" provinces -- where the majority of the legions were situated -- and purged the Senate, refilling it with his supporters from the provinces and outside the Roman aristocracy.
He was careful, however, to leave Republican institutions intact -- consuls continued to be elected, tribunes of the plebeians continued to offer legislation, and debate still resounded through the Roman Curia.
By 27 BC the transition was complete and in that year Octavian offered back all of his extraordinary powers to the Senate which it refused and titled him Octavian Augustus -- the revered one.
Augustus arranged for his 14 year old daughter to marry his 17 year old nephew in 24 BC, but the young man died and later he made her marry his step-son Tiberius.
Once Octavian named Tiberius as his heir, it was clear to everyone that the Republic was not going to be restored, and by the time Augustus died very few people existed who remembered a time before an Emperor ruled Rome.
Labels: antony, augustus, bc30, cleopatra, julius caesar, octavian, tiberius
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