The first Roman Emperor was Octavian. He was the nephew of Julius Caesar and also Caesar’s adopted son. Octavian ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to 14 AD. The Roman Senate conferred upon Octavian the title of Augustus. Augustus had three main goals. A. He wanted and gained sole power of the Empire. The Roman Senate and the Roman people for the most part supported Augustus. B. Augustus wanted to secure peace and security in the empire that had just undergone a major civil war between his supporters and those of Mark Antony. C. Augustus also wanted to unite all areas in the Empire and prevent another civil war.
Throughout the history of the Roman Republic and the years following it, Rome was in constant battles with its enemies on the Empire’s frontiers and the numerous civil wars within the empire.
Augustus’ strength was based on Rome’s military structure with whom he built total support. He was aware of the support the former Republic form of government still had and thus he kept the framework of a constitutional government. The reality was that the Senate and the Popular Assembly met only to formally approve the policies Augustus put forth to keep intact the three major objectives of his reign. To do this he sought and was granted the titles of various offices that were needed to rule Rome. He, in a sense, legalized his total power to rule the Roman provinces, authorize all the important financial functions under himself and kept the legions personal pledge to himself rather to the State.
To insure his legality, the Senate gave him for life titles such as Tribune, Proconsul, Princeps ( meaning First Citizen ) and Imperator for his status with the military. The Senate was all too happy to also confer upon Octavian the title of Augustus.
During his tenure in office, the most memorable words to describe his rule and the policies of the emperors that followed him was the Pax Romana. This “Roman Peace” was the framework, with certain exceptians, from his death in 27 BC to 284 AD.
Augustus was an active ruler. He is credited for the establishment of an efficient, stable and trained bureaucracy. He removed obstacles of the tax system that were clearly unfair. He ended the corruption involved with tax collections. Very importantly he surpressed the constant Roman mode of continual expansion of its territories. ( as much as was possible ). His defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra which brought on his uncontested powers, provided him with access to the riches of Egypt. He used part of this bounty to make extensive distributions of money to the commoners and patricians for various shows and for starting a great program of building public works.
He used his power and the policies of the Roman Treasury to lower interest rates. He ended prosciptions and decided to use his military power to actually reduce the number of legions. His demoblization of the army brought on retirements and veterans received gratuities and were settled in territories with new lands to farm. His sixty legions under arms were reduced to 28. To cover all the bases he thought he needed, he gave himself the highest religous title of Pontifix Maximus. This happened in 12 BC when the previous pontiff, Lepidus died. What I have described above are the main features of the rule of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus.
Throughout the history of the Roman Republic and the years following it, Rome was in constant battles with its enemies on the Empire’s frontiers and the numerous civil wars within the empire.
Augustus’ strength was based on Rome’s military structure with whom he built total support. He was aware of the support the former Republic form of government still had and thus he kept the framework of a constitutional government. The reality was that the Senate and the Popular Assembly met only to formally approve the policies Augustus put forth to keep intact the three major objectives of his reign. To do this he sought and was granted the titles of various offices that were needed to rule Rome. He, in a sense, legalized his total power to rule the Roman provinces, authorize all the important financial functions under himself and kept the legions personal pledge to himself rather to the State.
To insure his legality, the Senate gave him for life titles such as Tribune, Proconsul, Princeps ( meaning First Citizen ) and Imperator for his status with the military. The Senate was all too happy to also confer upon Octavian the title of Augustus.
During his tenure in office, the most memorable words to describe his rule and the policies of the emperors that followed him was the Pax Romana. This “Roman Peace” was the framework, with certain exceptians, from his death in 27 BC to 284 AD.
Augustus was an active ruler. He is credited for the establishment of an efficient, stable and trained bureaucracy. He removed obstacles of the tax system that were clearly unfair. He ended the corruption involved with tax collections. Very importantly he surpressed the constant Roman mode of continual expansion of its territories. ( as much as was possible ). His defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra which brought on his uncontested powers, provided him with access to the riches of Egypt. He used part of this bounty to make extensive distributions of money to the commoners and patricians for various shows and for starting a great program of building public works.
He used his power and the policies of the Roman Treasury to lower interest rates. He ended prosciptions and decided to use his military power to actually reduce the number of legions. His demoblization of the army brought on retirements and veterans received gratuities and were settled in territories with new lands to farm. His sixty legions under arms were reduced to 28. To cover all the bases he thought he needed, he gave himself the highest religous title of Pontifix Maximus. This happened in 12 BC when the previous pontiff, Lepidus died. What I have described above are the main features of the rule of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus.
