Augustus - The Principate Begins

Four years after Actium, Octavian walked into a Senate well disposed to his wishes and announced the restoration of the Republic. He was ready to set aside his formidable powers and become a private citizen once more. To no one's surprise, the partisan Senate 'refused' to allow him to step down and gave him the quasi divine title of Augustus which was a slightly archaic word meaning sacred or revered. Octavian's powers were formalized and Rome had given herself its first emperor.

Always the subtle manipulator, Augustus carefully selected titles for himself and his administration that were entirely inoffensive. He called himself Princeps, or First Citizen; his government was the Principate, or rule of the First Citizen. Romans already referred to their First Senator, the senior member of the Senate as the Princeps Senatus (a position that Augustus now also held). In his 'First Settlement' of 27 BCE he claimed to have restored the republic. This is yet another example of the young emperor's political skill. By devising a title so similar to the one with positive Republican associations, he was able to allow the appearance of the Republic while in reality, Rome had become a constitutional monarchy. Nothing happened without Augustus' approval. He was censor, Pontifex Maximus, and often held the consulship, which he distributed with other offices as favors to those who served him.

More importantly, he also held the two most formidable powers of the republic - the tribunican veto and the consular imperium. The former gave him control over all legislation while the latter gave him control over the army, which was sworn in loyalty to him. Citizens, too, swore their loyalty to him and worshipped his spirit or genius, as an act of patriotism. The powers he now held were exceptional only because they were now held by one man, but none of them were without republican precedent.

Augustus' closest advisory body was an imperial council made up of the consuls, a small body of trusted senators, the faithful Agrippa and the Princeps wife, Livia, and other members of the royal family. The murder of Julius Caesar warned him to come to some arrangement with the Senate and to find adequate scope for their ambitions without directly threatening his own political aims. In the end, they did retain their prestige but had no real power. Since the Senate could, however, influence public opinion, it was politically wise for the Princeps to create the impression that he worked closely with it.

Although born in Rome, Augustus had grown up in rural Italy and was as a result, conservative in his views. He emphasized traditional values and morals, religion, the family and pro Roman views in his reforms. Artists and writers were used to promote his ideals. Augustus also created the Praetorian Guard whose main duty was to protect the emperor (a duty they sometimes forgot since the Praetorians would often be involved in the rise and fall of Caesars!) He also gave Rome the first permanent fire department and police force.

With peace and prosperity restored, Augustus reigned for 41 years before dying a month short of his 76th birthday. The foundation of the Principate had been set and Augustus became the model for all succeeding emperors. Tact and discretion had created a basis for imperial government far strong than could have been forged by naked power alone.