Augustus: Consolidation of Power

While his enemies were being defeated abroad, Octavian also had been consolidating his power in Rome. He was helped by the growing impatience of Rome with Antony's alliance with Cleopatra, and he had himself appointed (31 b.c.) general against Antony. After the naval battle off Actium, which Agrippa won over Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian controlled all Roman territories. Although he began to reform the city and the provinces, he never returned control of the state back to the people.

He did, however, give the impression that Rome had gone from a military dictatorship to constitutional rule. He established no court, and he considered himself, at least publicly, not the ruler, but rather the first citizen of the republic. The senate delighted to honor him: in 29 b.c. he was made imperator [Lat.,=commander; from it is derived emperor], in 28 b.c. princeps [leader; from it is derived prince], in 27 b.c. augustus [august, reverend], in 12 b.c. pontifex maximus [high priest], and a month (Sextilis) was renamed Augustus (August) in his honor.

In his effort to hold the borders set by Caesar, he attempted to create a buffer state of the German territory between the Rhine and the Weser (or the Elbe). This led to a rebellion in a.d. 9 by Arminius in which Varus was defeated. This was the only real reverse Augustus suffered.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Reforms and Policies
• Consolidation of Power
• The Second Triumvirate
• Bibliography

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