After a century of civil wars and wide-spread fear and chaos, a new and promising leader arose, who, despite his comparably humble origins was soon to be called Augustus, the revered one, by the Senators. This once so powerful corporate body saw so much hope in this single man and bestowed numerable honors upon him, through which he eventually outranked all the other Senators in the state. By general consent of the Roman Senators, he arose as the one who would restore the Roman Republic. The events of his reign must strike us as particularly interesting, because it is unclear as to how the Republic can be restored, if an unprecedented shift of power and acceptance of this power within the Senate takes place.
Research agrees that, despite Augustus’ claim to have restored the Republic, the Roman State, during the larger part of his rule, qualifies as a new form of government, namely the Principate, which was to remain the dominant form of government for the centuries to come.
It is therefore an essential question, how and to what extent the Senate changed. What role did it fulfill in Augustus’ government and by which right was it in the Emperor’s hands to initiate all of these changes and how was his own role to be defined?
By taking both ancient and modern sources into account when it comes to appraising Augustus’ actions, this paper shall clarify the legal status of the Emperor and trace the nature of his relationship with the Senate as well as the latter’s purpose within the new government.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Augustus’ Onset with the Senate
3. The Background after Actium
4. The Senate under Augustus
5. The Emperor’s Own Position in the New Government
6. Collaboration and the Consilium Augusti
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper examines the transformation of the Roman political landscape under Augustus, specifically focusing on the shifting power dynamics and legal relationship between the Emperor and the Senate. It explores how Augustus navigated the transition from a failing Republic to the Principate while maintaining the appearance of traditional governance.
- The evolution of the Senate's authority and social composition under Augustan rule.
- The tactical use of public image, influence (auctoritas), and legal maneuvering to consolidate power.
- The nature of the collaboration between the Emperor and the Senate, including the role of the Consilium Augusti.
- The contrast between the facade of restored Republican institutions and the reality of autocratic monarchy.
Excerpt from the Book
4 The Senate under Augustus
Soon after his victory at Actium, the Emperor set out to change the composition of the Senate whereby “in all the policies Augustus adopted regarding the Senate, one of his concerns was presumably always how to put the position and power he had achieved for himself and his family on a permanent footing. [...] He needed to ensure that the real decision-making power remained in his hands, either through changing the law or reorganizing the practical machinery of government.” During the following years, Augustus would continuously, and on various occasions employ both measures to consolidate his own powers.
The Senate had swollen to 1,000 or more members during the civil wars because of Caesar’s large-scale adlections and also, because during the past turmoil unworthy people had strived to attain a seat in the Senate either by influence or bribery. Accordingly, one of the imperative objectives was to cut down the corporate body to its former size, which Augustus achieved by holding a lectio senatus in 28 and 18 BCE. He did this with censorial power but, nevertheless, it is remarkable that he accumulated so much influence and power that he could perform significant revisions of the Senate without facing any major opposition. Even Augustus must have felt that he was stretching his competences to a high extent. He chose to carry a sword and wore armor under his tunic while being protected by the most robust of his friends among the Senators, who stood by his side.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical transition from the Roman Republic to the Principate and identifies the research question regarding the distribution of power between Augustus and the Senate.
2. Augustus’ Onset with the Senate: Analyzes the early, tense relationship between the young Augustus and the established Senatorial body, highlighting his initial reliance on military force and political influence.
3. The Background after Actium: Discusses the political climate following the victory at Actium and how it facilitated Augustus’ centralization of power as a provider of peace and stability.
4. The Senate under Augustus: Examines how Augustus reorganized the Senate’s size and responsibilities to align with his own administrative goals while maintaining the appearance of Republican traditions.
5. The Emperor’s Own Position in the New Government: Explores Augustus’ self-portrayal in the Res Gestae and his deliberate strategy of appearing as a magistrate while wielding de facto autocratic power.
6. Collaboration and the Consilium Augusti: Evaluates the effectiveness of the cooperation between the Emperor and the Senate, including the role of the Consilium in streamlining government decisions.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, concluding that while Republican forms were preserved, the reality was a Monarchy where the Senate’s independence was effectively neutralized.
Keywords
Augustus, Roman Senate, Principate, Roman Republic, Actium, Auctoritas, Consilium Augusti, Res Gestae, Political Power, Monarchy, Diarchy, Legal Status, Administration, Senatorial Aristocracy, Roman History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines how Augustus redefined the role of the Senate in Rome while consolidating his own personal power, effectively transforming the government into a Principate.
What are the core thematic fields covered?
The work covers political history, constitutional development during the transition from Republic to Empire, and the sociological changes within the Senatorial class under Augustus.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study asks how and to what extent the Senate changed in the Augustan age and how the legal and political relationship between the Emperor and the Senate was defined.
Which scientific methodology does the author apply?
The author employs a historical-analytical approach, synthesizing primary ancient sources (such as the Res Gestae and works by Tacitus and Cassius Dio) with modern historiographical interpretations.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the historical background post-Actium, the reorganization of Senatorial membership, Augustus’ evolving legal position, and the nature of the collaboration between the Emperor and the Senate.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Augustus, Roman Senate, Principate, Auctoritas, and the structural transition of Roman political institutions.
How did Augustus manage to hold power without appearing as a dictator?
Augustus used political theater and propaganda to position himself as a servant of the Senate and the state, choosing terms like "princeps" to suggest equality while maintaining absolute control.
What was the role of the Consilium Augusti?
The Consilium served as a specialized committee used by Augustus to discuss and manage state business, which further limited the Senate's influence on the decision-making process.
Why did the Senate support Augustus despite his encroaching power?
Many Senators were weary of the chaos of civil wars and felt that supporting Augustus was the safest route for the state, while others sought personal gain and prestige through his favor.
What does the author conclude regarding the fate of the Republic?
The author concludes that while Augustus preserved the outward forms of the Republic, he successfully shifted the reality of the government to a Monarchy where the Senate lost its original, independent authority.
- Citation du texte
- René Faßbender (Auteur), 2007, Augustus' Relationship with the Senate, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/124524
