Characteristics Of Augustus

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After taking down Julius Caesar’s murderers, the alliance of Octavian (Caesar’s heir), Lepidus and Mark Antony (both were Caesar’s followers) fell apart. Forced Lepidus out of office and Mark Antony to commit suicide, Octavian took the throne, became the first Emperor of Rome under the name of Augustus—meaning “one that is blessed by the gods in rulership over Rome” (Cohen) and evolved Rome from a Republic into an Empire. While ruling Rome, Augustus had achieved a tremendous amount of accomplishments which kept Rome prosperity and peacefulness over 40 years. Therefore, to recognize Augustus as a successful ruler of Rome, “the Senate, the Equestrian Order, and the Roman People with one voice named [him] Father of [his] Country” (Augustus 9). …show more content…

So what factors make one a good ruler in Rome when she just turned herself from a Republic to an Empire? According to the Excepts from Augustus: Res Gestae and the Excepts from The Twelve Caesars, one is considered a good ruler based on three characteristics: being a role model, and the ability to use the authority effectively after earning it. Augustus had all of these characteristics as a ruler, therefore, he was a good ruler after turning Rome from a Republic to an Empire.
Some might argue that to gain absolute power, Augustus had not hesitated to bring many people to death including murdering and forcing to suicide. Before Caesar was killed, he had a bastard son called Caesarion by Cleopatra—the last Pharaoh of Egypt. When married to Mark Antony, Cleopatra received “a huge grant of territory, much of it Roman” (McKay, Ebrey, Beck, Crowton, …show more content…

“Excerpts from Res Gestae.” Trans. Charles Chamberlain. MMW 12: Classical and Medieval Tradition. Comp. Richard Cohen. La Jolla, CA: University Readers. University of California San Diego. Winter 2016. 7-9. Print. This is a collection of excerpts from The Achievements of the Divine Augustus which is a list of Augustus ' achievements in political career, his donation for empire and how the Roman people recognized him. The text was written when Augustus was 75 years old and it was not published until after his death. By presenting a lot of achievements, he shows that he tried his best to keep Rome’s peacefulness and prosperity. The text supports the recognition of the Roman people for Augustus’s attempts to make Rome a place where everyone wants to

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