The Importance Of The Augustan Settlement

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What was the Augustan Settlement? How did Augustus balance his perceived need for absolute power with his concern to lend the impression that the republic had been restored and the old ways were being observed: The Augustan settlement was a series of powers given Augustus. In 27 B.C Augustus was given these Providences Spain, Gaul, Syria, and Egypt to rule for ten years, then Augustus was given the power the declare wars and make treaties. Augustus is given the power of tribune for life and imperium miuse, so with these two powers he can veto anything. Octavian was given the cognomen Augustus. Augustus retained the power to appoint military tribunes and appoint tax collectors. Augustus restores consul elections and repletes power to the traditional magistrates. The Augustan settlement was obviously the settlement of the Providences mentioned but these were some of the powers that he retained for absolute power. Augustus was on a mission to become the dictator of Rome but he had to do it in a kind of secretive way, he didn't want to just take over and force the people of Rome to instantly comply, he needed to create an image of himself and he needed to do it humbly and slowly. The senate started to give Augustus more and more power out of either their own laziness or they saw that he was a really good leader and they thought that he could get Rome back to a peaceful era. So now that Augustus has his new wonderful powers and his new powerful nickname, he has to tread lightly because if he just blatantly says I am your new military dictator he will end up assassinated like Julius Caesar. Augustus also revives the old sense of morality and religion.

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