19), whom he had been obliged to adopt at the command of Augustus to the exclusion of his own son, he hoped to secure the succession for Drusus. After the death of his nephew Germanicus (A. By his first marriage Tiberius had a son called Drusus, while his second marriage with the immoral Julia, daughter of Augustus, was childless. Before this date the question as to the succession to the empire had led to a terrible family tragedy. The persecutions and executions for lese-majesty, which rapidly increased during the second half of his reign, and the gloom which pervaded Rome induced Tiberius to leave the capital altogether in the year 26 and to live partly in Campania and partly on the Island of Capri. The strong opposition which grew up against him was due to his taciturn and domineering disposition, and to the influence of the prefect of the guard, Ælius Sejanus, who alone possessed his confidence. He developed imperial power by declining to have his authority renewed from time to time by the Senate, as Augustus had done. Like Augustus he reformed and improved every department of the government, and promoted in every direction the prosperity of the empire of which Augustus had laid the foundation. In his internal policies especially he is one of the most distinguished of all Roman emperors. It is only during the last sixty years that he has been more fairly judged, and at present the opinion begins to prevail that he was a genuine Roman, a ruler faithful to his duties, just, wise, and self-contained. Hard and secretive by nature and embittered by the neglect with which his step- father allowed him to be treated, he did not arouse personal enthusiasm, and until recently was described by historians as a bloody tyrant. In the year 10 he was appointed coregent with Augustus. By the marriage of his mother with Emperor Augustus he became the latter’s stepson, and was adopted by Augustus in A. He was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia. His wisdom and intelligence benefited the people of his empire, for he was a strong as well as fair ruler. He was a great leader for the Roman empire. He gave Roman control to his stepson Tiberius for he had no other living male offspring. He also signed a peace treaty with Parthia, showing he used wisdom as well as aggression.Īugustus died with honor, and was remembered well by his people. Among his claims made include Spain, Gaul, Egypt, and Armenia. He organized the military with himself at the head, and used it to control the frontier regions of the Roman empire as well as invade new countries. He had a great military mind, and used his military strength well. The military was probably the focal point of his leadership. The Urban cohorts were his police force for the wards, and either senators or Augustus himself served as ward leaders. To more effectively govern the city of Rome, he divided it into 14 wards, and organized a bureaucracy to control them. To more effectively govern the empire, he developed an imperial civil service. He also tried to fortify the traditional Roman family by established laws which punished adultery and required marriage and the remarriage of widows. To improve the moral climate of the empire, Augustus tried to revive the traditional Roman religion. He was a patron of the arts, gladly spending money to improve the artwork of Rome, and encouraged the wealthy class to do the same. He built temples to encourage and place importance in Roman religion. He acted in the name of the Senate, and the Senate reflected his will to keep people satisfied that the government was working together.Īugustus also kept the people satisfied with their leader and proud of Rome. Even though it was a nominally a republic, he ran it as an autocracy. He saw taking control as the only way to sustain the empire. To legitimate his power, the Senate named him Imperium proconsulare maius infinitum in 23 BC, which gave him control over the provinces and the army. At the battle of Actium in 31 BC, he defeated the last of his opponents, Mark Anthony, and took control of Rome. When Caesar was assassinated, Octavian raised an army to claim his inheritance and avenge his uncle’s murder. The first and perhaps greatest of the Roman emperors, Augustus ended a bloody civil war, ruled with wisdom and power, and united and kept peace in Rome for many years.Īugustus was born with the name “Octavian.” Well educated in philosophy, rhetoric, and military skills as a boy, he was adopted by his uncle Julius Caesar and became his heir.
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