Akhil Bansal IV/GSP

Explain why Augustus considered lavish spending necessary for his ability to maintain power in Rome

From the moment Augustus seized control of Rome, he faced two quintessential difficulties- the first was the establishment of a stable, centralised government whilst still maintaining his own power, and the second was projecting a positive, democratic image to avoid being seen as a tyrant and risking assassination like Julius Caesar. In many areas, Augustus’ lavish spending enabled him to overcome these difficulties. The two major facets where Augustus’ lavish spending can be seen are in the establishment and success of his reformations, the propagation of propaganda in his favour, and also the re-arrangement of the provincial and senatorial system to avoid uprising.

Firstly, the situation in the Roman Empire in 27 BC was one that where opposition had ideal conditions to flourish. By his various reformations, Augustus ensured that there was stability in the government and that nobody would or was able to question his authority. His reformations can be separated into those concerned with the army and those for the plebeians. The support of the army was so essential in eliminating the threat of another civil war and also because monopoly on the military was the means by which Augustus maintained his power. Gaining the support of the army was a difficult task, and Augustus was forced to spend lavishly to keep the army firmly within his grip. From 27 BC- 6 AD, he is expected to have given 100 million sesterces to the roman soldiers in bonuses, with Tacitus remarking that he, “seduced the army with bonuses.” Also, increasing the pay of each legionary to 900 sesterces and the promise of 12000 sesterces at the end of a legionary’s service is said to have cost Augustus 140 million sesterces. Even within Rome itself, he established the praetorian guard of nine cohorts to ensure that laws were enforced and public order was maintained. Augustus boasts of his payments to the military, with him saying that in 6 AD, “I transferred to it [treasury] from my own patrimony 170,000,000 sesterces.” Consequently, Augustus, recognising that, “Ultimately the army was the key to the Empire's security,” (David Shotter) spent lavishly on them in order to ensure their loyalty to him.

In conjunction with his reformations to the army, Augustus also made various reformations for the plebeians. These served a dual purpose- a propagandist attempt at creating popular support and also a means of pacifying the people and maintaining law and order. One method was the grain and other food distribution. In a scarcity of grain, “he would frequently let the plebeians have them at a very low price, or none at all. He also doubled the number of money tickets.” (Suetonius). Augustus boasts of his distribution of grain in Res Gestae when he says in chapter 18, “whenever the taxes did not suffice, I made distributions of grain and money from my own granary and patrimony, sometimes to 100,000 persons, sometimes to many more.” Augustus also introduced spectacles and gladiatorial games to appease the lesbians. These entertained the masses and kept them from rioting. In his Res Gestae 22/23 Augustus boasts that he held 3 gladiatorial games in his own name, 5 in the names of his family, 26 beast hunts and a naval battle. This measure was a significant propaganda tool also as it emphasised the auctoritas of Augustus in the eyes of the plebs. Finally, Augustus improved public service as he laid the foundations for fire brigade, water board and police force. One demonstration of this is the improvement of the fire brigade. In 21BC a force of 600 slaves were used. BY AD 6 3,500 freedmen formed the vigilantes, the fire brigade covering the districts of the city of Rome. Another demonstration of this was the sewerage system. Agrippa was responsible for the clearing of the drains into the Tiber and for the building of an additional aqueduct into the city. His workforce formed the basis for the permanent water board. The cloaca maxima was cleared so it operated more effectively. Consequently, through the extremely conscious effort August makes to appease the plebians, he ensures that they feel a certain loyalty to him and do not question his authority.

Akhil Bansal IV/GSP

Furthermore, Augustus initiated an extensive campaign of propaganda, much of which involved lavish spending. According to Galinsky, “ Augustan propaganda did not aim to win over popular support, but rather, to generate the impression that Augustus was a natural part of the political, moral and social fabric of Rome and the Empire. “ In conjunction with this, Augustus’ propaganda attempted to portray Augustus as a paragon, an embodiment of perfection and to a certain extent, an apotheosis. His propagandist movement can be separated into his extensive building program and the literature and art in his favour. Poetry was a significant method in the creation of the Augustus ethos. One prominent poet who wrote in Augustus’ favour was Virgil. As a result of Augustus’ patronage to Virgil, Virgil refers to Augustus as a saviour preventing the prolonged miseries of the world. He also most famously wrote the Aeneid in 28 BC, an epic poem about the endeavours and progress of Augustus. Another poet who wrote in favour of Augustus was Horace, who was not only payed patronage, but also offered the position of private secretary for Augustus. His praise of Augustus is immense, and in the Odes, he says that Augustus has, “brought back fertile crops to the fields and has restored to our won Jupiter the military standards stripped from the proud columns of the Parthians.” In addition to poetry, there were also a number of sculptures made in honour of Augustus. One example of this is The Gemma Augustea, made in about 10-20 CE, which portrays the Emperor Augustus accompanied by Roma, the goddess. Not only this, this sculpture hints on the successor of Tiberius. The cameo refers to military victories won by Tiberius over the peoples of the Alpine and Danube areas (the Roman provinces of Rhaetia and Pannonia). Another sculpture is the statue at Prima Porta, a marble copy of a bronze statue that celebrates the return in 20 BCE. Augustus is barefoot (a sign of divine status) and Cupid (riding on a dolphin beside his right foot) reminds the viewer of Venus, the divine ancestress of the family of Augustus, the gens Iulia.

Finally, Augustus embarked on an extensive building program. Not only did this contribute to the apotheosis of Augustus, it also projected the stability and liberation of Rome from strife and unrest. One program was the restoration of temples, with 82 temples said to have been restored, including the Temple of Concordia (AD 10) and the Temple of Castor (AD 6). This rebuilding of temples signifies the reconstruction of Rome and the liberation of Rome from civil wars. The second building program was the imperial for a, and specifically the Augustan forum, built in 2 AD in honour of Augustus being given the title “pater patriae.” It exemplifies Augustus amongst other gods and thus creates the image that he is a god-like figure. Also, there was the construction of the Ara Pacis, decreed by the Senate on Augustus' return from Spain and Gaul in 13 BCE. On the front panel, the figure to the left rides on a swan and symbolizes the air, while to the right, riding on a sea- monster, a figure symbolizes the breezes of the sea. The allegory depicts the fertility of Italy renewed by the Pax Augusta. Finally, the Mausoleum of Augustus was begun in 28 BCE, the year of Octavian's triumphs for his victories over Cleopatra and other foreign enemies. It demonstrates the military he played in commissioning the liberation of the Roman Empire.

In conclusion, by the lavish spending that Augustus employed, Augustus was able to create the image of a stable, centralised government whilst still maintaining his own power. He was also able to project positive, democratic image and avoid being seen as a tyrant and risking assassination like Julius Caesar. This is demonstrated by his extensive propagandist movement and his various reformations.

Akhil Bansal IV/GSP

Bibliography

Books

Ancient Rome- Using Evidence by Pamela Bradley

Augustus- the first emperor by Fiona Forsyth

From the Gracchi to Nero: A history of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68 by H.H. Scullard

The life of Rome’s first emperor Augustus by Anthony Everitt

The Age of Augustus by Werner Eck

E-books

Res Gestae Divi Augusti by Augustus (online version)

The divine Augustus by Seutonius (online version)

Websites

http://class.lism.catholic.edu.au/ahist-dvd/ahist- hsc/HSC%20augustus%20etc/pages/40benefitsplebians.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara_Pacis