Augustus, Advisors and the Senate

Abstract Cassius Dio’s narrative of Augustus’ reign is fundamental to our understanding of this period. This article will focus on D.C. 55.34.1. After a lacuna, the text reads: ‘… however, declare his opinion among the first, but among the last, his purpose being that all might be permitted to form their views independently’. It has been almost universally assumed for two centuries that this describes Augustus’ interaction with the senators but, through a comparison with Dio’s narrative of Tiberius, I will argue that 55.34.1 actually describes Augustus’ interaction with his advisors. Given the paucity of evidence about Augustus’ interaction with these two bodies, this correction has wide consequences. It also has consequences for research on Dio’s view of Augustus and the ideal monarch as well as scholarship on Dio more broadly.