Roman Empire: Difference between revisions
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The founding of the Roman Empire conceivably took place in the period 31 B.C. to 14 A.D. This period is marked by the | The founding of the Roman Empire conceivably took place in the period 31 B.C. to 14 A.D. This period is marked by the triumph of '''Octavian''' in 31 B.C. at the end of the civil war for control of the Roman Republic (32-31 B.C.) and the death of Caesar’s last remaining rivals, '''Mark Antony''' and '''Cleopatra''' in 30 B.C.. Octavian's victory was followed by his ascension to the throne in 27 B.C. when Octavian took the name '''Augustus Caesar'''. The period ends with the death of Augustus in 14 A.D. by which time popular elections had all but been abandoned. | ||
During the forty-year rule of Augustus Caesar | During the forty-year rule of Augustus Caesar , he began building the political structure for Imperial Rome. The system of '''''magistracies''''' was subsumed by the throne and were awarded by the emperor ('''''princeps''''' in Latin). | ||
Caesar Augustus also took over direct control of the majority of the provinces, ruling through his appointed subordinates, and nationalised the army, placing it under direct control of the emperor. This measure stripped generals of the power to interfere in politics with their troops in support as had been done earlier by '''Pompey''' and '''Julius Caesar''' in 49 B.C.. | Caesar Augustus also took over direct control of the majority of the provinces, ruling through his appointed subordinates, and nationalised the army, placing it under direct control of the emperor. This measure stripped generals of the power to interfere in politics with their troops in support as had been done earlier by '''Pompey''' and '''Julius Caesar''' in 49 B.C.. | ||
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When Augustus died in 14 A.D., he was succeeded by his son '''Tiberius'''. | When Augustus died in 14 A.D., he was succeeded by his son '''Tiberius'''. | ||
<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/fallofromanrepublic_article_01.shtml The Fall of the Roman Republic] BBC History 2006-09-11. Author: Mary Beard, University of Cambridge</ref> | <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/fallofromanrepublic_article_01.shtml The Fall of the Roman Republic] BBC History 2006-09-11. Author: Mary Beard, professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/rome_timeline.shtml Ancient Rome Timeline] BBC Ancient History. Author: Dominic Berry, senior lecturer in Classics and Roman history at the University of Leeds.</ref> | ||
=Notes= | =Notes= | ||
Revision as of 20:02, 10 November 2007
The founding of the Roman Empire conceivably took place in the period 31 B.C. to 14 A.D. This period is marked by the triumph of Octavian in 31 B.C. at the end of the civil war for control of the Roman Republic (32-31 B.C.) and the death of Caesar’s last remaining rivals, Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 30 B.C.. Octavian's victory was followed by his ascension to the throne in 27 B.C. when Octavian took the name Augustus Caesar. The period ends with the death of Augustus in 14 A.D. by which time popular elections had all but been abandoned.
During the forty-year rule of Augustus Caesar , he began building the political structure for Imperial Rome. The system of magistracies was subsumed by the throne and were awarded by the emperor (princeps in Latin).
Caesar Augustus also took over direct control of the majority of the provinces, ruling through his appointed subordinates, and nationalised the army, placing it under direct control of the emperor. This measure stripped generals of the power to interfere in politics with their troops in support as had been done earlier by Pompey and Julius Caesar in 49 B.C..
Augustus invested heavily in changing Rome’s physical stature with extensive building projects to ostentatiously advertise his rule. Concomitantly, he went to great lengths to promote his own family as the future imperial dynasty.
When Augustus died in 14 A.D., he was succeeded by his son Tiberius.
Notes
- ↑ The Fall of the Roman Republic BBC History 2006-09-11. Author: Mary Beard, professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge.
- ↑ Ancient Rome Timeline BBC Ancient History. Author: Dominic Berry, senior lecturer in Classics and Roman history at the University of Leeds.