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IMPERIAL IMAGE NOTESSECTIONS:
1. Augustus coming to Rome
2. Augustus as a military leader
3. Augustus as a peacetime leader (culture and religion)
SOURCE BOOKLET
Relevant sources for each section will be listed as notes are made – each one will then be
noted and analysed in full in the source analysis. This system will also be reversed as I list
relevant themes for each source.
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Source Booklet:
Res Gestae Divi Augusti
- Overriding bias as Augustus wrote this to catalogue and immortalise his own
achievements meaning his success will be exaggerated and made to seem that he
was the person solely responsible. Furthermore, his enemies will also be made to
seem as largely less important and influential than they are. The battle of Naulochus
in 36BC with Sextus Pompeius is a prime example of this
1.
“…On my own initiative and at my own expense I raised an army by way of which I liberated
the Republic” – Augustus as a successful military Imperator – gaining support of the Roman
populous as he is responsible for their liberation. In reality this was a very small army
“The people appointed me as consul” – he actually demanded the consulship with his
centurions – but this presents him as a man with the innate support of the people.
2.
“I drove into exile those men who had murdered my father, avenging their deed by legal
means and…I conquered them twice in battle,” - here he speaks of Brutus and Cassius at
Philippi in 42BC Octavian actually took little part in this conflict, but he here presents himself
as hugely pious and affiliates himself with his adoptive father and by extension his
status, popularity and divinity.
3.
“I pardoned all the citizens who asked for mercy” – Augustus embodying Roman values, in
this case – clementia – one of the values presented on the Augustan shield of 27BC – also
echoing his father’s values.
“About five hundred thousand Roman citizens swore allegiance to me,” – refers to the
people who became part of his army to fight at Actium – mobilizing the veterans – makes a
good impression as Augustus is presented as looking after the soldiers’ post service.
“I captured six hundred ships,” – military imperator
4.
The triple triumph of 29BC
“I was named imperator twenty-one times. When the Senate voted to me further triumphs,
I declined them.” – not only does this remind us that Augustus is a skilled military leader,
but we understand his humility and good character.
,“prayers be offered to the immortal gods on account of the successes achieved by me or by
my legates,” -associating himself with divinity – the extent of his victory. “
“I had been consul thirteen times when I wrote this, and I was in my thirty-seventh year of
tribunician power.” – moving from imperator to a more civic leader ‘tribunicia potestas’
5.
“When the dictatorship was offered to me…I refused it,” – although Augustus did take pains
to associate himself with Caesar, he doesn’t want to repeat Caesar’s mistakes of being
associated with kingship. Still maintaining the spirit of Roman democracy
“I freed the whole population from fear and immediate danger, at my own cost and effort,”
– Augustus as pater patriae – he acts on behalf of the people and is willing to make sacrifices
for the welfare of the people. He is a moral leader and we are also made aware of his stoic
existence.
6.
“I alone was to be responsible for the laws and morals, with supreme power. I received no
magistracies that were not inkeeping with the customs of our ancestors,” – Augustus is
given absolute power under legal means – unlike his kingly predecessors – he has power but
no office and is not breaking tradition, strong sense of tradition in his rule and the customs
he sought to reignite. ‘Mos Maiorum’ – creating a legacy in instilling a peace that consisted
of morality, laws and welfare of the people.
7.
Triumvir from 43-33BC
Reminded of his titles “pontifex maximus, augur, one of the fifteen commissioners for
performing priestly duties, one of the seven priests responsible for sacred feasts…” –
Augustus as a religious leader, he is given divine power as well as the civic and political
power as a Triumvir.
8.
“I carried out a lustrum” – a census carried out every 5 years – and also had religious
connotations in the sense that this censorship was seen as purification of society as immoral
people lost their citizenship. – Augustus bringing order and structure to society.
“By new laws passed on my authority, I bought back many examples of ancestral practices
that were becoming obsolete in our time and I myself handed on many exemplary practices
to posterity that could be imitated” – reinstating tradition – a civic leader and ‘pater patriae’
– mos maiorum – a sense that he was in charge of the morality of the Empire. Also creating
a legacy, sense of permanence.
9.
“vows for my health should be undertaken by the consuls and priests.” – high status –
Augustus as an almighty figurehead
“The citizens unanimously and continuously prayed for my health at all the pulvunaria,” –
Augustus drawing attention to his religions regeneration of Rome – divine connotations and
sense that he was well liked by the people as they desired him to be healthy. Augustus also
increased the presence and omnipotence of religion in Rome through the building of
Pulvinaria.
10.
“my name was included in the Salian hymn, and it was sanctified by a law that I should be
inviolate for ever,” – Salian hymn was a religious ode – showing Augustus being written into
religion, intertwining the myth and glory of religion with reality. He is, by law, held in such a
position of religious power forever – again creating a legacy for himself.
, “I refused to be made pontifex maximus in place of my colleague who was still alive,” –
showing his humility – he is for the Republic, not losing the support of the senatorial classes.
At the gathering for his election there were “so many as had never been seen before that
time in Rome,” – Augustus has the support of the Roman people, in such a way that has
never been before seen – he is on a new level.
11.
Augustus bringing religion back into Rome “priests” “Vestal virgins” “named the day
Augustalia from my cognomen,” – 19BC Augustus intertwined into religion as his name was
used for a religious festival – Augustus as a religious leader, elevating the status of religion
as a whole,
12.
“When I returned to Rome from Spain…having successfully arranged matters in these
Provinces, the senate voted to consecrate an Altar of Augustan peace for my return,” –
Source – Ara Pacis – commemoration. Also, Augustus is presenting as having a presence in
the reaches of the Empire and instilling peace and order.
13.
“It was the wish of our ancestors that Janus Quirinus should be closed when there was
peace,” – referring to the closing of the doors of the temple of Janus Quirinus in peacetime
– a tradition which Augustus reinstated – he is the bringer of peace through a Golden Age.
14.
“The entire body of knights gave them the title of princeps iuventutis and presented them
with silver shields and spears.” - the princes (Gaius Lucius) had the support of the upper
classes and that they were likeable and had the political interests of the people at heart. On
coin also. Furthermore, they were presented by Augustus as readily immersed in politics
from a young age, as he once was, as “The senate decreed that from the day on which they
were introduced to the forum, they should take part in the counsels of the state.” - his heirs
embodying Roman custom and leadership qualities as he saw to it that they became active
and likeable members of society from a young age. Augustus as a good father – family
values and creating a dynasty.
15.
“In my fifth consulship, to each of the Roman plebeians, I paid out from my father’s will
three hundred sesterces and, in my own name, four hundred sesterces from war booty,” –
Demonstrating Augustus associating himself with his father’s popularity with the lower
classes – also demonstrating his role as a pater patriae – caring for citizens of all classes
including veterans.
“my largesses never reached fewer than two hundred and fifty thousand people.” – the
wide-reaching nature of Augustus’ power – every strata of society.
16.
“I paid out money to the towns for the lands that were given to soldiers…” – showing
Augustus taking personal responsibility for his people and their welfare – particularly the
veterans “I paid out monetary rewards to soldiers” – every echelon of society, showing
genuine respect to the role soldiers play in creating society.
17.
“Four times I helped the treasury with my own money,” – reminding us once again of
Augustus’ humility and selflessness – putting Rome before himself, benefiting Rome and
bringing it into a golden age – implicitly taking great responsibility for this.
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