The Fall of the Republic and the Rise of Augustus c. 150 27 BC

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The Fall of the Republic and the Rise of
Augustus(c. 150 27 BC)
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Creation of the Roman Empire
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• Landless Roman Peasants
• Served in the armies that
• had won an empire
• Wanted farmland and a minimum
• standard of living

• Italian Allies
• Served in the armies that
• had won an empire
• Wanted citizenship and equal
• treatment

• Senate
• - Intense rivalries
• Jealously protected
• privileges and power
• Did not address needs for
• reform

Tensions in the Late Republic

• Equites
• Wealthy and distinguished non senators
• Wanted honors and recognition did
• not want senators to look down on them

• Roman Poor Plebs
• Laborers and poor of the capital
• Want access to grain and bread at
• affordable prices

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Harbingers of Change
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Crassus, Pompey, Julius Caesar
Caesar
Crassus
Pompey
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From Julius Caesars Civil Wars
These things being made known to Caesar, he
harangued his soldiers he reminded them "of the
wrongs done to him at all times by his enemies,
and complained that Pompey had been alienated
from him and led astray by them through envy and
a malicious opposition to his glory, though he
had always favored and promoted Pompey's honor
and dignity. He complained that an innovation had
been introduced into the republic, that the
intercession of the tribunes, which had been
restored a few years before by Sylla, was branded
as a crime, and suppressed by force of arms that
Sylla, who had stripped the tribunes of every
other power, had, nevertheless, left the
privilege of intercession unrestrained that
Pompey, who pretended to restore what they had
lost, had taken away the privileges which they
formerly had that whenever the senate decreed,
'that the magistrates should take care that the
republic sustained no injury' (by which words and
decree the Roman people were obliged to repair to
arms), it was only when pernicious laws were
proposed when the tribunes attempted violent
measures when the people seceded, and possessed
themselves of the temples and eminences of the
city (and these instances of former times, he
showed them were expiated by the fate of
Saturninus and the Gracchi) that nothing of this
kind was attempted now, nor even thought of that
no law was promulgated, no intrigue with the
people going forward, no secession made he
exhorted them to defend from the malice of his
enemies the reputation and honor of that general
under whose command they had for nine years most
successfully supported the state fought many
successful battles, and subdued all Gaul and
Germany." The soldiers of the thirteenth legion,
which was present (for in the beginning of the
disturbances he had called it out, his other
legions not having yet arrived), all cry out that
they are ready to defend their general, and the
tribunes of the commons, from all injuries.
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Gaius Julius Caesar (c. 100 44 BCE)

• Had a loose three-man alliance (cross the
  Rubicon die is cast)
• Catered to desires of many non-senators
• Provoked and won a civil war
• Had himself named dictator, then dictator for
  life.
• Murdered in March 44 BCE

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When Caesar Was Assassinated

• Would the Republic be restored or would another
  powerful individual take Caesars place?

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Gaius Julius Caesar Dictator Died 44 BCE
Marcus Brutus, One of the Chief murders of Caesar
Marcus Lepidus, One of Caesars Officers
Octavian, adopted son of Caesar
Marcus Antonius, Second in Command to Caesar
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Stage 1 44-43 BCE Maneuvering
43 BCE

• Octavian and Marcus Antonius are bitter rivals
• Octavian
• Is recognized as Caesars son and heir. Takes the
  name Gaius Julius Caesar
• Raises a private army to get vengeance on
  Caesars assassins and defend himself against
  Antonius
• Works with Cicero, a Roman senator, to get the
  consulship in 43 BCE.
• Antonius builds own alliances.
• Limited civil war
• Triumvirs for Restoring the Republic Antonius,
  Octavian, Lepidus.

Caesar
Antonius
43 BCE
Caesar
Octavian, using the name Caesar
43 BCE
The Triumvirs
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The Proscriptions (43 BCE)

• The triumvirs posted lists of their enemies in
  public.
• If a name was on the list
• The person was declared an enemy of the Republic
  and could be murdered without penalty
• The property of the person was taken by the
  triumvirs.
• The murderer got a share of the victims property
• Thousands were murdered.

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Stage 2 42 31 BCE The Elimination of Rivals

• 42 BCE Antoniuss army defeats the army of
  Caesars assassins at Philippi.
• Marcus Lepidus is forced out of the Triumvirate
  by 36 BCE
• Octavian and Antonius divide up west and east.
• 31 BCE After years of rivalry and propaganda
  battles Octavian defeats Antonius at Actium

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Stage 3 Creating a Position of Power, 31 27 BCE

• The Restoration of the Republic, 27 BCE
• Octavian is given the honorary title Augustus
• Augustus was officially governor of most
  provinces and commanded most of the legions
• Senatorial governors for the remainder of the
  province and a few legions
• Some adjustments in 23 BCE
• Official command over whole empire as a governor
• reliance on tribunician power first granted to
  him in 36 BCE
• Held no more offices

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The Princeps Augustus 27 BCE 14 CE

• Building Program
• Revival of customs
• Entertainment and culture