1 / 46

The Roman E mperor

The Roman E mperor. The Roman Empire SASH39 Lovisa Brännstedt. The Roman Emperor. The development of the Empire The principate The Emperor as imperator How did the Emperor rule ? The Imperial family The Imperial succession The Emperor and the city of Rome

annice
Download Presentation

The Roman E mperor

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Roman Emperor The Roman Empire SASH39 Lovisa Brännstedt

  2. The Roman Emperor • The developmentof the Empire • The principate • The Emperor as imperator • Howdid the Emperorrule? • The Imperial family • The Imperial succession • The Emperor and the city ofRome • The Emperor and the Roman cities • The Imperial cult • Res GestaeDiviAugusti

  3. Terminology • Caesar • Imperator • Augustus • Therewas no single term, the wordEmperor is a modern construction.

  4. From Republicto Empire • Militarycampaigns and social stress • Maintenance of conquered lands • Burden of military service • Crumbling farms • Unequal wealth distribution • The Roman army turning into a professional one

  5. The Marian reforms 107 B.C. • All malecitizens, regardlessoftheirwealth or social class, weremadeeligible for entryinto the Roman army. • The armywas no longer fighting on a seasonal basis toprotecttheir land. • Soldiers received standard pay. • Militarydutybegantoappealtowhom a salariedpaywasattractive.

  6. The FirstTriumvirate

  7. The FirstTriumvirate • A politicalallianceofGaius Julius Caesar, Marcus LiciniusCrassus, and GnaeusPompeius Magnus with no official status. • The alliancecombined: • Caesar'senormouspopularity and reputation • Crassus' spectacularwealth and influencewithin the Equestrian order • Pompey'sequallyspectacularwealth and military reputation. • Pompey married Caesar’s daughter Julia • When Crassus died at Cannae and Pompey was murdered in Egypt, Caesar was the sole master of the Roman world.

  8. Julius Caesar • The Gallic wars 58-51 B.C. granted Caesar: • Unmatchedmilitarypower • Wealth • Loyalsoldiers

  9. Caesar assassinated March 15 44 BC • Dictator perpetuo • King? • Kai su, teknon – Et tu, Brute!

  10. The republican institutions could not copewith the struggles for powerbetween over-mighty generals, nor couldtheymeetthe demandsof the growing empire. Caesar hadlayed bare the weaknessofRome, Augustus triedtosolve the problem whichultimately led to the establishmentof the permanent Roman Empire.

  11. The Second Triumvirate 43 BC – 33 BC • M. Aemilius Lepidus – consul, pontifex maximus (highpriest) and amongCaeasar’sgreatest supporters. • Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) – popular general and closeto Caesar. • C. Iulius Octavianus – Caesar’sadopted son and solehair. Hewasonly 19 by the timeofhis grand uncle’sdead, butOctavianhad the loyal support ofCaesar’ssoldiers.

  12. Unlike the earlierFirstTriumvirate, the Second Triumviratewasofficial and legallyestablished. It’spoweroutrankedthatof all othermagistrates, including the consuls. The only limit of the Triumviratewas the five-year term set by law.

  13. By proscriptionstheycouldeliminatepoliticalenemies, replenish the treasury and gainwealt. The proscribedwerealwaysstrippedoftheirproperty, and oftenkilled. • In 42 BC, Octavian and Antony set outtowar and defeated Brutus and Cassius in a battlefought at PhilippinorthernGreece.

  14. War between Antony and Octavian • The Second Triumviratecould not withstandinternaljealousies and ambitions. • Antony lived in Alexandria with Cleopatra VII ofEgypt, and hadchildrenwithher. • Octavianstayed in Rome. He (illegally) obtainedAntony'swill in Rome, in July 32 BC. • Octavianusedhis propaganda toturn the public opinion and the senateagainsthis former colleague Antony. In 32 B.C the Senatedeclaredwar, and the nextyear Antony and Cleopatra weredefeted at Actium.

  15. The principate • Princepsprimumcaput (lat.) - the firsthead • Octavianrestored the Roman Republic, with the traditionalgovernmentalpowerof the Senate, but in practiceheretainedhisautocraticpower. • It tookOctavianseveralyearstoworkout the framework.

  16. Octavianheld, by law, a collectionofpowersgrantedtohim for life by the Senate, includingthoseoftribuneof the plebs and censor. • Hewasconsuluntil 23 BC. Later emperorscould pick and choosewhethertheywishedto be consul, or allowtheir supporters thathonourinstead. • The Emperorhad no specificoffice, exceptof the republicanones. • The model for all later imperial government.

  17. Augustus • The reveredone • A honorificname given by the Senate in 27 B.C.

  18. Octavian’s powerstemmed from: • financialresourcesgained in conquest • the buildingofpatronage relationships • the loyaltyofmanymilitarysoldiers and veterans • the authorityof the many honors granted by the Senate • the respectof (someof) the people.

  19. The Emperor as Imperator • The Emperorhadtohandle the administration of the Empire, butwasalsoexpectedto be a military man. • The Emperorneeded the loyaltyof the Roman army. • In moments ofcrisis, and when the succession wasunclear, was the underlyingpowerof the militarylaid bare. • The praetorianguard.

  20. Howdid a did an Emperorrule? • Senate • Magistrates • Clientela • Imperial slaves and freedmen.

  21. The Roman patron-client system • A relationshipbetweenthe and hisclient. The relationshipwashierarchical, butthe obligations weremutual. • The patronuswas the protector, sponsor, and benefactorof the client. • Benefitsa patron mightconferinclude legal representation in court, loansofmoney, influencing business deals or marriages, and supporting a client'scandidacy for politicaloffice or priesthood. • In return, the clientwasexpectedto offer his services tohis patron as needed. • A freedmanbecamethe clientofhis former master. • The Emperorcould be a patron for a legion, a city etc.

  22. The Imperial Family • Livia Drusilla • Femina Princeps – a paradox • The faithful wife and mother, keeping old decorum • Livia hadherowncircleofclients • Sheruledherownfinances • After the deathof Augustus, shebecame Augusta and highpriestessofhiscult.

  23. The Imperial succession • Augustus died in year 14 AD, 76 years old. Hehadbeenemperor for over 40 years. Hewassucceeded by Tiberius. • The Julio-Claudian emperors (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Nero) were all related, butnonewassucceeded by hisown son. • The abilityofspecificindividualsmight be challenged, but not the figureof the Emperor as the holderofpoliticalauthority.

  24. Augustus and the city ofRome • Hefound it in bricks and left it in marble… • The Emperor as patronus • Administration: vici • Dynastic monuments, such as his mausoleum. • Public buildings • The involvementofhisfamily

  25. Ara Pacis • The altar of (Augustan) peace. • Consecrated on 30 January9 BC by the Senatetocelebratethe returnof Augustus from the Western provinces and thatpeacewasestablishedin the Empire afterhisvictories. • Ara Pacisportray the peace and fertile prosperityenjoyed as a resultof the Pax Augusta. The peacewasbroughtabout by the militarypowerofRome. • Ara Pacisalsoacted as a visualreminderof Augustus and hisdynasty.

  26. Solarium Augusti • The largestsundial in the ancientworld, erected by Augustus. • The gnomonwas a 30-metre Egyptian obelisk, acting as a triumphant demonstration ofEgypt's subordination to Roman power. • The shadowof the gnomonfellacross the center of the marble altar on 23 September, the birthdayof Augustus himself. Augustus wasnatus ad pacem, borntobringpeace. • Onceagain, peacewaslinkedwithmilitaryauthority and imperial expansion.

  27. The Emperor and the Roman cities • Sometownsenjoyed a privilegedrelationship. • The importansofvisual representation. • The Emperor as magistrate, as priest, as a commander, as a hericnude. The portraitsofempressesincorporatesboth elements ofmatronlyvirtue and divinity.

  28. Imperial cult • The unequalrelationshipbetween the Emperor and hissubject must seemto be natural and unchallengeable. • The Emperor and hisfamilywasbothpoliticalleaders and gods. Theycould be approachedthroughleters and embassies, or prayers and sacrifices. • A deceasedEmperorheldworthyof the honourcould be voted a statedivinityby the Senate. • Cultof a living person was never a part of the Roman statecult, but common in the provinces. • A patron-clientrelationship.

  29. To sumup… • The peoplethanks the Emperor for whathedidtothem (victories, buildingprojects, games) by different honours. Importantoccurrences in the imperial family (accessions to the throne, marriages, birthsof new femilymembers, deaths) provided occasions for the bestowalofhonours.

  30. This is it not propaganda in the modern sense, as there never wasany central propaganda agency or institution. Anyonewhowantedto express hisgratitude and loyaltyto the Imperial familycouldeitheruse the visualformulaethathadbeendeveloped in Rome or createhisown images, as long as they fit the catalogueoftraditionalthemes.

  31. A competitionbetweenmembersof the elite. To praise the imperial family, and tohave access to it, became the mostimportant medium for self-representation.

  32. An example from Forum Clodii: Under the thirdconsulshipofTiberius Caesar and the second of Germanicus Caesar and under the duumvirateofGnaeusAcceius Rufus Lutatius, son ofGnaeus, of the tribusArnensis, and Titus Petillius, son ofPublius, of the tribusQurina, thisdecree(havebeenissued): Thistemple and thesestatues, a sacrificial animal for the dedication (thereof). The twovictims, who has alwaysusedto be sacrificed, shall be sacrificed on Augustus’ birthday, 24 September, on the altar dedicatedto the numenof Augustus, on 23 and 24 September.

  33. Furthermore, on the birthdayofTiberius Caesar, the decuriones, under the obligation toalways do so, and the peopleshallbanquet. QuintusCascelluspromiseto cover the costforever so thatheshould be thanked for hismunificence, and that on thisbirthdayshallannually a bull-calf be scarified, and that on the birthdaysof the emperors Augustus and Tiberius, before the decuriones go todine, shalltheirgenii be invited, withincense and wine, todine at the altar of the Augustannumen.

  34. The altar to the Augustannumen is erected at ourownexpense. Wehaveorganized games for sixdays, at ourownexpense. On birthdayof Augusta, wehave, at ourownexpense, passedoutmulsum and crustlumat the statueofBona Deato the womenliving in the village. Furthermore, at the dedicationof the statuesto the Caesars and Augusta, wehavepassedoutmulsum and crustlumto the decuriones and the people, at ourownexpense, and wehaveswornto do this on the dayofthisdedication, in eternity, so thatthisdaymayannually be morefrequentcelebratedon 10 Match, the date on whichTiberius Caesar, mostauspiciously, waselected pontifex maximus.

  35. Res GestaeDivi Augusti • The queenofinscriptions • In hiswill, Augustus requestedthat RGDA should be displayed in bronze in front ofhis Mausoleum. • Copies from Asia Minor (Turkey)

  36. What is the messageof the text? • Whatdoes the text havetosayabout the roleof the Emperor? Whatshouldhe do? • On whatwashispowerbased? • Whatdoeshenot say? • Why do youthinkcopiesof the text wereputuparound the empire?

More Related