Why Is Augustus The Most Important Emperor In Roman History

The aim of this paper is to factually analyze the thesis- “Augustus was the most important emperor in Roman history because he had great success in rebuilding Rome”. Before going into historical demonstration of this thesis something must be said of the republican system which was reigning in Rome before Augustus put an end to-

The Roman Republic was a political system which was stamped and swayed, but it was not by parties and programmes which we are so familiar with which is a modern and parliamentary variety. And it was not swayed even by the powerful opposition between Senate and People, Optimates and Populares, nobiles and novi homines. The main locomotive force of politics was the strife for power, wealth and glory. (ref: Syme, Ronald 1960 The Roman Revolution, Oxford University Press) [1]

And the success of Augustus which is to be evaluated in thesis must be done along this line of politics if it is to avoid any anachronistic judgment.

Augustus’ own evaluation of his achievements:

First what Augustus thought of his politically unique position must be taken into account of. And a magnificent source of this is his first-person record of the life he lived and the accomplishments he achieved, the funerary inscription on the bronze pillars in front of his mausoleum- Res Gestae Divi Augusti (The Deeds of the Divine Augustus). Although this work is identified as a propaganda work, but the strong conviction with which this work is created and replacing the concept of total political power as a personal influence or ‘auctoritas’, guising military dominance by ‘universal consent’ marvels the political historians still. His reluctance to name directly is also evident of his political prudence. Here Mark Antony becomes 'faction' with whom he fought, Brutus and Cassius becomes enemies of Rome, and tacit implication of Sextus Pompeius as a ‘pirate’ and although he was the undisputed power holder of Rome in this inscription he bears no more “official power” than his colleagues. [2] (ref: Res Gestae Divi Augustus. The Achievments of the Divine Augustus, eds. Brant, P.A. & Moore, 1991, Oxford University Press.) It is said here-

‘In my sixth and seventh consulships [28-27 BC], after I had extinguished civil wars, and at a time when with universal consent I was in complete control of affairs, I transferred the republic from my power to the dominion of the senate and people of Rome…After this time I excelled all in influence [auctoritas], although I possessed no more official power [potestas] than others who were my colleagues in the several magistracies.’ (Res Gestae Divi Augusti 34.1-3) [3]

The Subtle nature of his gaining political power:

The historian’s gift which is known as hindsight compels even the most critical of historian to identify the reign of Augustus as one of the most crucial period of Ancient European History.

Now whether the change that this time period brought about followed the evolutionary line or a rapid outright contingent revolution can be debated for many time to come. To the political contemporaries of Augustus the transition of political pole from oligarchy to autocracy seemed almost smooth and predictable [2]- [4] Now this obviousness of Augustus’ rise of power was not due to intelligence of his political comtemporaries as such. The eminence of Augustus during the early principate evolved in due time with due measure. A situation is worthwhile to consider: After the Actium war, the final war o Roman Republic, which was against Mark Antony, Augustus (then known as Octavian) became the unprecedented head of Roman empire. He had control over sheering number of five hundred thousand legionaries [3]- [5]. And the recent seizure of Ptolemaic treasure trove. The total situation compelled Tacitus (one of the bitterest commentator of Augustus) to say- ‘Opposition did not

exist’.[[4]]
But the total eminence of military power did not shortened Augustus’ political prudence. He maintained much subtlety of his political power knowing the history of expulsion of Roman monarchy which provoked the malignity of the senate. On the other hand Augustus did not follow the example of Sulla who decided of retirement immediately after the ending of the civil wars. If this was done by Augustus too Rome would eventually find again itself indulged in fratricidal civil wars.[[5]] With much political prudence Augustus chose the strategic way of gaining political power which required subtle change in the power politics.
Augustus quest for strategic acquisition of power can be realized if the history following eight years after the great war of Actium. After successfully carrying out of the Actium campaign powers of a second triumvirate political regime (consisted of Augustus, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus) were succeeded by executive consulship up to 23 BC.