Download From Octavian to Augustus

From Octavian to Augustus
Caesar’s assassination and the 2nd Triumverate
• March 15, 44 BC
• Two of Caesar’s
most trusted
lieutenants- Mark
Antony and Lepidus
joined with Octavian
(Caesar’s adopted son) to
form the 2nd
Triumverate and
defeated the armies
Brutus and Cassius
(two leading
assassins of Julius
Caesar)
• Both Mark Antony and Octavian wanted to be #1
so a compromise was reached: the Peace of Brundisium, 40 BCE
• Antony &
Cleopatra
• 40 BCE “Love at first
sight?”
• Antony married
Cleopatra and had
3 children with her.
• Donation of
Alexandria,
34 BCE
• Antony’s
acknowledgment of
Caesarion as legitimate
and heir to Caesar's
name was more than
Octavian could bare.
•
Octavian's base of power
was his link with Caesar
through adoption, which
granted him much-needed
popularity and loyalty of the
legions. To see this
convenient situation
attacked by a child borne
by the richest woman in the
world was something
Octavian could not accept.
End of the 2nd Triumverate…3rd Civil War
• The Treaty of
Brundisium
ended in 33 BCE
• The Battle of
Actium 31 BCE
• Cleopatra and
Antony fled to
Egypt where
they committed
suicide
Octavian was a political
genius: he held absolute
power without breaking the
façade of a Republicmagistrates were still elected,
assemblies still met, the
Senate still enjoyed many of
their privileges.
There was no talk of land
reform etc etc!
Peace had returned to Rome!
• In 27BCE Octavian offered to
surrender his power but was
rejected by the Senate
• He refused to be called
dictator or king – just “the
princep.”
• The Senate conferred on him
the title Augustus – Exalted
One – and reigned until 14CE
• His policies laid the foundation
for 200 years of peace and
prosperity-”the Pax
Romana.”
The Pax Romana - “Time of Happiness”
27BCE-180 AD
200 years of peace allowed for the flourishing of culture
throughout Roman-controlled lands
> trade and commerce expanded
> arts and science thrived
>Greco-Roman life based on rational thought reached
everywhere in the Empire- an orderly world community
> Roman law was impartial and humane
> Administration was efficient and beneficial
> Architecture employed the arch, the dome and columns
> the Latin language
> Literature; historical writing; science and engineering
> Conditions for women and slaves improved
Successors to Augustus:
The Julian-Claudian Dynasty: Poisoned; Stabbed; Poisoned; Suicide
Tiberius
r 14-37
Caligula
r 37-41
Claudius
r 41-54
Nero
r 54-68
Tiberius, r14-37
• His mother Livia, married Augustus
making him step son to the
Emperor
• One of Rome’s greatest generals,
laying the foundation of the
northern frontier
• Came to be remembered as a
dark, reclusive & somber ruler who
never desired to be emperor
• At 26, he lived on the isle of Capri,
leaving Rome to be run by the
Praetorian guard.
Caligula, r 37-41
“Little boots”
• Irrational, unbalanced
megolomaniac who had
himself worshipped as a
living god
• Drained the treasury to
humor his whimsfighting in mock
gladatorial fights,
dressing up like a
woman.
• Campaigns in Syria,
Germania and Britain
were all failures
• The first Emperor to be
assassinated
Claudius r 41-54
Propped up by Praetorian Guard
•
During his reign the Empire
conquered Thrace, Noricum,
Lycia and Judaea, completed
the conquest of Mauretania
and began the conquest of
Britain.
•
Having a personal interest in
law, he presided at public
trials, and issued up to twenty
edicts a day.
•
Extensive public works
projects
•
Poisoned by his wife and her
son, Nero
Nero, r 54-68
• 2 myths: The Great fire of
Rome? Burning Christians for
light.
• Promoted athletic games, built
theatres and a huge palace with
artificial lake
• Killer: his mother (Agripinna II) &
his pregnant wife, Poppaea
• Lost support of the army;
committed suicide