Augustus- Absolute Power By Any Means Necessary - 914 Words

With the death of Julius Caesar, Augustus became the leader of Julius great conquests, resources, and soldiers. Immense power was his to seize. However, the power came at a cost. At the forefront of his attention, Julius killers were still loose, sewing seeds of violent oppression to this authority. Combined with this constant fear of revolt, the propaganda of Marc Antony and others further challenged his right to rule. Therefore, for Augustus to command the absolute power bestowed upon him, he must eliminate any threats by any means necessary. This took the form of massacre. The justification for Augusts campaign against any threat came from propaganda spread against him and its potential to undermine his rule. One of the primary methods of belittlement came in the form of slander against his family name. No individual utilized this tactic more cunningly than Marc Antony. The first rumors targeted the social position of his ancestors. Antony claimed Augustus paternal great-grandfat her was only a freeman and his grandfather a money-changer. On the maternal side, Antony publically spread Augusts maternal great-grandfather was a baker from Africa. Even though Suetonius dismisses the Antonys rumor of money changing, many Romans followed Antonys strategy of humiliation (including Cassius Parmensis). By undermining his family ties, Antony could unsettle the legitimacy behind his rule. Since social position determined the cursus honorum, a successful tarnish couldShow MoreRelatedEssay ROME IN THE AUGUSTINIAN AGE1775 Words   |  8 Pageswas given the title of Imperator, and was used in the Eastern provinces. Imperium suggests unlimited imperium (or power) (Antiquity 2 Interpreting The Past) This was the first of many titles that were to be given to Octavian after his defeat of Mark Antony in 31 BC at the Battle of Actium. 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