Res Gestae 34 & 35
In my sixth and seventh consulships, after I had extinguished civil wars, after by universal consent, I was in
control of all affairs, I transferred the republic from my power to the control of the senate and the Roman
people. For my service, by senatorial decree, I was named Augustus, and the doors of my house were publicly
clothed in laurel, and a civic crown were fixed over my door and a golden shield was put in the Curia Julia,
which was given to me by the senate and the people of Rome for my courage, clemency, justice and piety, as
attested by this inscription. After that time, I surpassed all in influence, although I had no more power than
those who were my colleagues in the magistracies.
In my thirteenth consulship, the Senate and the equestrian order and the whole people of Rome gave me the
title of pater patriae (Father of the Country) and this was to be inscribed in the entrance hall of my house and in
the Curia Julia and in the Forum of Augustus below the chariot which had been put there in my honour by
senatorial decree. When this was written, I was seventy six years of age.
Using this passage as a starting point, evaluate how effectively Augustus legitimised his
position of power within the Roman state. [30]
● Apart from this passage, consider using the coin with Augustus and the scrolls,
the coin with him and Caesar or the one with the comet or the one with Pax; in
addition you might use other parts of the Res Gestae, Horace Epode IX, Horace
Odes 4.15, Propertius Elegy 3.6, the Prima Porta statue.
As Augustus nears the end of the Res Gestae, he emphasizes that he only took complete
control over Rome when it was best for the people, and he did not cling on to power when
Rome did not need him to. In this passage, Augustus drives home the point that everything
he has accomplished and all of the honors he has received come from the Roman people
and from the Senate. He is justifying his position of power by reminding the people he is not
a dictator, but rather a man of the people. Augustus is able to show that he is in control of
everyone by having ultimate power, as seen through his civic crown, while allowing the
senate to feel that they still maintain control over Rome. The civic crown is a military award,
and it was typically awarded to Roman soldiers who saved the life of a fellow Roman soldier
by killing the enemy threatening his comrade. In Augustus's case, he is given credit for
bringing an end to the civil war against Mark Antony, which is why he is awarded the civic
crown. This is an example of him justifying his power, as he has brought peace to Rome.
Augustus legitimised his position of power effectively within the state by using the Res
Gestae to remind the people of the great things he has done for Rome and by clearly
outlining how he is not a dictator. Augustus tried to have by having a monarchy but made the
people of Rome still believe that it is a republic to secure his position of power.
Augustus’ very own “Res Gestae” serves as a justification for his powerful position. Section
21 of the Res Gestae describes ways Augustus used art and architecture to advance the
