Augustus

Augustus, famous as Rome’s first emperor, came to power in the aftermath of his defeat of Antony and Cleopatra. The benefit of hindsight allows us to view him as the founder of a new political system at Rome, known as the Principate. This neat summary obscures the fact that the period of Augustus’s rule was one of experimentation and innovation, exploring what the place of Augustus and his family should be within the structures of Roman society. The period is distinctive both for its innovative approach toward visual and material culture, notably art and architecture, coins, and inscriptions, and for claims to be restoring traditional Roman virtues, particularly in the sphere of religion. It also produced the Golden Age of Latin poetry, represented especially by Virgil, Propertius, Horace, and Ovid. Their works give insights into the moral and emotional compass of their world, engaging with public life and politics, but not in the form of propaganda. The whole of Roman society was restructured during this period. The introduction of an imperial court, with domus Augusta (“Augustan household,” i.e., the emperor and his relations) and familia Caesaris (slaves and freedmen associated with the emperor and his family) at its center, produced new structures of administration and government, while existing bodies, notably the Senate and equestrian order, were overhauled and their roles redefined. New laws on marriage, adultery, and the manumission of slaves were introduced to maintain the quality of the Roman citizen body. Financial reforms included the introduction of new coinage, setting up a new state mint at Lugdunum, and the establishment of a military treasury in Rome. Colonies were founded in many parts of the empire, and cities in both Italy and the provinces experienced a striking phase of monumental development, while the appearance of the city of Rome itself was radically modified, with particular emphasis on honoring the gods and providing amenities for the plebs. These benefits arose from the long period of peace ushered in by Augustus ending decades of civil wars, but the outbreak of peace did not exclude ongoing military campaigns beyond Italy. Augustus claimed at the end of his life that he had conquered the whole known world. Membership in the Roman army became a profession, bound to Augustus, who increasingly monopolized traditional military honors. By the time Augustus died in 14 ce, society at Rome, in Italy, and in the provinces had been radically transformed.