Augustus 27BC – 14AD

By Carly Osherow and Tayla Slay

• Battle of Actium (31 BC) marks the beginning of the empire, Augustus declared himself Supreme Power in 27 BC

• The title ‘king’ was hated by the Romans, but they could not form a government besides monarchy

• Policy of conciliation, wanted to wipe out the hatred of the Civil War

• Octavius became Augustus Princeps (First Citizen)

Beginning of Empire and Name

• Proconsular Power over all the frontier provinces

• Tribunician Power - protector of the people• Imperator - command of the army• Princeps Civitatis - the first citizen of the

state

Powers and Titles

• Restored the dignity of the Senate• Senate reduced from 900 to 600 members• The Senate was supposed to assist the

Emperor, but instead was only there to approve proposals submitted to it

• Powers of the popular assemblies were basically taken away

• Insisted that Consuls be elected every year

Government Under Augustus

• Lavish games• Gave out doles of grain• New public works• Repaired roads• Established a mail system

Popular Reforms

• Organized the Praetorian Guard• Reduced from 50 to 25 legions in his

demilitarization effort

The Army

• Founded 28 new Italian colonies with the disbanded soldiers

Expansion

• Established city police• Created fire and detective department• Regulated grain supply and distribution

from Egypt• Divided the city into 14 districts• Citizens were more orderly and law-

abiding

Administration of Rome

• Through the wars under Augustus the empire’s boundaries were extended to:o Rhine and Danube on the northo Atlantic Ocean on the westo African desert on the southo Euphrates on the east

New Frontiers

• Restored financial confidence• Dropped interest to make the government

seem less burdensome to the citizens

Finances

● Became sick in 23 BC● Needed a Julio-Claudian heir, but only had

daughters● Julia married Marcellus (died in 23 BC)● Julia then married Agrippa (died in 12 BC)● Augustus adopted Gaius and Lucius Caesar

(died in 2 and 4 AD)● Julia then married Tiberius (her late husband’s

daughter’s husband)

Succession

• Succeeded by Tiberius when Augustus died in 14 AD

End of the Reign of Augustus

• Succeeded by Tiberius when Augustus died in 14 AD

End of the Reign of Augustus