Roman Emperors Part 1: Augustus and the Early Julio-Claudians

Magistra Kelleher Latin 1B

After Augustus, Julius Caesar’s nephew and heir, defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium in 31 BC, he became the most powerful man in all of Rome. Although he always referred to himself as the “first man” in Rome and never called himself king or emperor, his rule ushered in a new phase in Roman history and the time of the Republic gave way to the time of the Empire. During his 40 year rule Augustus subtly restructured the Roman system of government, ensuring that he was the chief authority. Although the Romans continued to elect consuls and other officials, Augustus always had the final say. After so many years of civil unrest and war, the Roman people were willing to trade stability for the singular rule by one man.

Throughout his rule Augustus made many positive changes in the empire. He tightened the defenses on the borders, he made peace with old enemies through diplomacy, he reformed the taxation system, and he imposed a strict code of morality designed to inspire people to live more like their ancestors. Even though Rome was at peace during his rule, Augustus made extreme changes to the Roman army. Augustus established a standing army with himself as the head and he built a system of roads throughout the empire to allow the army to move more easily. Finally, Augustus created the Praetorian Guard. The Praetorian Guards were the personal body guards of the emperor and the only soldiers allowed to be stationed in the city of Rome.

Although Augustus was hailed as the one of the finest rulers in Rome’s history, he faced one major problem: he had no heir. Augustus’ only child was a girl named Julia the Elder who he had with his second wife Scribonia. After Julia’s birth, Augustus divorced Scribonia and married Livia Drusilla (who already had 2 sons), but their marriage was childless. Augustus was always aware that he would need to name an heir, and over the 40 years of his rule he named many, but all but one died before him. Augustus’ potential heirs included his daughter Julia’s first two husbands and her three sons. When Augustus did die in 14 AD his stepson Tiberius, whom Augustus had never really embraced, became his heir.

Many historians suspect that Tiberius never wanted to be an emperor, but was pushed into power by his mother Livia, Augustus’ third and final wife. Tiberius was involved in the political world in Rome and was a successful military commander, but in 11 BC Tiberius was compelled to marry his stepsister Julia the Elder and adopt her 5 children. Tiberius was never happy in his marriage to Julia and in 6 BC he fled Rome and went into self-imposed exile in Rhodes. In 4 AD, however, he was recalled to Rome following the death of Augustus’ grandsons. Tiberius was adopted as Augustus’ full son and heir. In 14 AD he ascended to the position of emperor or princeps. Tiberius’ early reign was plagued by problems. The Roman legions in Germany were unhappy and mutinied causing chaos at the border. Tiberius sent his nephew and heir Germanicus to calm the legions and re-secure the border. Germanicus succeeded in his task and was praised by the Roman citizens. Tiberius then appointed Germanicus to govern the eastern provinces. After a year in the Middle East, Germanicus died under suspicious circumstances. Many people suspected Tiberius was behind Germanicus’ death because he was jealous of his nephew’s popularity. By 26 AD Tiberius was frustrated with his role as princeps, and he made the surprising decision to leave Rome and live at his villa on the island of Capri. Tiberius left his praetorian prefect Lucius Sejanus in charge of Rome. Sejanus quickly abused the power Tiberius gave him and held treason trials against many prominent senators. Finally in 31 AD, Tiberius realized the mistake he had made and ordered Sejanus’ execution, but even then he refused to return to Rome. Over the next six years Rome was run by through an uneasy alliance of the senate and the praetorians. At the end of his life Tiberius adopted his step-grandson Gaius “Caligula” as his heir.

Following Tiberius’ death in 37 AD, Caligula ascended to the throne of Rome. Caligula’s ascension was welcomed by the Roman people who hoped that he would be like his father Germanicus. Caligula’s reign started off well, but in late 37 AD he fell ill. Upon recovering from his illness, Caligula’s demeanor changed. Caligula began to grow paranoid and imagined plots all around him. By 39 AD relations between Caligula and the senate had deteriorated greatly and Caligula began to hold treason trials against senators. In 40 AD Caligula made a failed attempt to conquer Britannia. According to Roman historians, rather than actually sailing to Britannia, Caligula ordered his troops to capture the “spoils of the sea” (all the sea shells on the beach). Around the same time, Caligula began dressing as different Roman deities and even asked to be referred to as a deity. Although it was not uncommon for emperors to be hailed as gods after their death, Caligula took the practice a step further by declaring himself a god while living. As Caligula’s behavior continued to decline into violent and erratic outbursts, the Roman people began to fear him. In 41 AD Caligula was assassinated by the praetorian guards. The praetorians then proclaimed Caligula’s uncle Claudius the new emperor.