Foolish Upheavals Against Our Emperor

(December 16, 12 A.D.)
Being the great nephew of Julius Caesar, Augustus knew that he would become a great leader. Although unlike Caesar he changed his governmental system to a style he named Principate. In Principate there is a monarchy but the ruler remains in power for life. Unlike his great uncle, Augustus was able to control and set the Republic back to a state of peace and lawfulness. With this known fact then why are some citizens stating in open marketplaces that our Roman Empire would be better if it was controlled and ran by a dictator and not Augustus? This small group of people have went all around central Roman marketplaces preaching their ideals and that they want to set the government back to a Republic with a dictator. Let me remind you what happened the last time we had a dictator and how the innovations of Augustus have helped our economy and empire.

 During the times of Caesar as we all know, the Republic was at a time of anarchy. Generals committed extortion and stole money from everyday citizens, and occasionally resorted to intimidating the senate by using the Roman army to influence the voting assemblies. In the time of Caesar people would settle disputes through fights and brawls rather than negotiation, and the city of Rome was uncontrollable. This restlessness inside of Rome led to the Civil War between Pompey and Caesar. When Caesar had complete control as dictator over Rome, he did little to settle the internal problems of Rome. Caesar even planned to leave Rome for a few years to campaign against the Parthians in the last few months of his life.

On the other hand Augustus, the great nephew of Caesar, controlled Rome with a much more fair and powerful way. Becoming the first emperor of Rome, Augustus was able to stop 100 years of civil war and put our great land in a state of peace and prosperity. He was able to assemble an army of 28 legions. He then gave these soldiers wages and rewards after being discharged. For the first time in Roman history being a soldier turned into a true profession. He then made all troops take oaths of loyalty and he usually only made commanders people of his family or close friends. Augustus is the best military leader we have ever seen. His military genius allowed him to create a standing army abroad. This abroad army led an expansion campaign made to protect Rome from enemies and possible invaders beyond the frontiers. Of course we cannot forget the battle of Actium in which Augustus defended us from Cleopatra and Marc Antony, the traitor. After his performance in the battle of Actium we had no choice but to allow him to lead our empire. As ruler he has changed Rome from a Republic to an Empire, and nearly doubled the size of Rome. He has conquered various territories in Europe and Asia Minor. He restored internal structure inside of Rome by founding his own governmental system. Augustus “found Rome a city of bricks, and left it a city of marble” as he made it much more strong and powerful. Along from being the great military leader that we all know him as, Augustus is also a very well educated man. He has founded many buildings of art and architecture such as the Forum, the Ara Pacis Augustae, and the multiple buildings in the Campus Martius. Also during his time as ruler many famous writers came to be known such as Vergil, Horace, Ovid, Tibullus, and of course the great C. Maecenas. C. Maecenas was actually a great long time friend of Augustus. He was also able to create many more bridges, highways, aqueducts, and an efficient postal system. Let’s not forget that because of our great leader Augustus, “the exalted one”, we would not be living in this state of peace and prosperity.