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To what extent did Augustus restore the Republic?
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First year essay of 2095 words, achieved a first (80% grade) Applicable to classics a-level - imperial image and ancient history
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Exam no. B231107 - 2095 wordsTo what extent did Augustus restore the Republic?
Augustus is one of history’s most famous figures, however, his self-proclaimed statement of
“restoring the Republic” remains a controversial topic amongst historians today. In this essay,
I will argue that Augustus did not restore the Republic. I agree with the historian Hadrill who
believes “the power of the Roman emperors was absolute and autocratic.”1
Firstly, one must define the term ‘Republic’. The Romans defined ‘res publica’ as giving
power back to the Senate and the people, but it also included concepts such as religion,
morality and traditional values. The Republic consisted of the magistrates, two consuls
possessing imperium who sought advice from aristocratic peers to formulate policy, and
finally, the Populus in the comitia who would decide whether to make the policy into law.
Nonetheless, by the time of Augustus, the Republic was declining with men such as Sulla
Julius Caesar attempting to compromise traditional principles by becoming dictators and
trying to turn the Senate into a rubber-stamping institution. Not only were politicians
becoming more ambitious, but politics was dominated by rivalries and foreign wars
demonstrated the weaknesses of the Republic which relied on respect for authority and
tradition.2 Thus, when Octavian rose to power, emphasised his mission of restoring the
Republic to avoid the same demise as his predecessor.
After Actium, Augustus was undisputedly in control. He created a political formula which
gave the Republic ‘Libertas’ whilst asserting himself as its permanent supervisor.
1 Wallace-Hadrill, A. (1982), ‘Civilis princeps: between citizen and king’, JRS, 35
2 Shotter, D. (2005) Augustus Caesar, London: Routledge, 3-17
, Exam no. B231107 - 2095 words
Considering he had saved Italy from the ‘pirate’ Sextus Pompeius, and publicised Anthony’s
will that bequeathed the Roman empire to Cleopatra and her children, this emphasised his
role as the ‘Champion of the Republic’.3 In the First Settlement (27 BC), Octavian renounced
his powers, but still held a great deal of authority - the Oath of Allegiance from the Senate,
army and western provinces, consulare imperium4, powers of a triumvir, and the Consulship.
Dio holds a cynical view on this. He recounts how when Augustus resigned his powers, the
Senate “pleaded” for the monarchy to make him seem reluctant to take power. He writes
“Augustus wished to be thought democratic” and “when this was done he was eager to
establish the monarchy.”5 To Dio, Augustus put up a charade as “a few of [the senators] knew
his real intention”, ergo there was never a real restoration of the Republic6. Compared to neo-
contemporary writers and Augustus himself, Dio is a more reliable source as he was writing
200 years later and he was more brutal in recounting what Octavian did.
In the First Settlement, Octavian was granted powers that made him the most powerful man
in Rome. A Denarius of Octavian in 27 BC7 illustrates Augustus depicting himself as the god
Neptune, conveying his growing confidence. By representing Octavian with a sceptre and his
foot on the earth, this implies that the head of the oikoumenē under the command of Rome
was Augustus - even he was not afraid to proclaim that he had the most control.8
3 Shotter, D. (2005) Augustus Caesar, London: Routledge, 23, 28
4 Cassius Dio, Book 53.12-13; Strabo, Geographia 17.13.25
5 Cassius Dio, Book 51,11-12
6 Eck, W (2003) The Age of Augustus, 85
7 See Appendix 1
8 Roux, M. (2018) Denarius depicting the head of Victoria and Octavian as Neptune with his right foot on a globe (32-29
BCE). Available at: https://www.judaism-and-rome.org/denarius-depicting-head-victoria-and-octavian-neptune-his-right-
foot-globe-32-29-bce-0 (Accessed: November 22, 2022).
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