Caesar Augustus, one of the notable Roman Emperors who ruled from 27 BC until 14 AD, is recorded as one of the most accomplished emperors. Caesar was the richest man in the Roman Empire, which gave him material power and resources to afford a big military and loyalty across Rome, which helped him restore order and peace in the Roman Empire (Galinsky, 2012). He had a strong network of advisers who helped him to address important issues affecting the Roman Emperors, including the expansion of security, festivals, games, and development programs (Lamp, 2009). He restored the worship of Roman gods, strengthening religion. The emperor was also associated with increased fertility and crop productivity which restored wealth in Rome (Del Mar 1900). He brought peace, civil rest, and prosperity to Rome (Rowell, 1962). The paper will discuss Caesar Augustus as the emperor who had a transformative effect on Rome by restoring order, peace, agricultural prosperity, security and infrastructure expansion, and wealth in Rome.
Caesar restored peace and order in Rome. During his reign, Caesar promoted policies and rules that encouraged peace in social groups, trade, and politics. To formulate the policies, Caesar required loyalty that gave his unlimited power across Europe (Galinsky, 2012). The power ensured that his rivals were silenced, giving him the authority to rule the empire how he deemed fit. He was the richest man in the Roman Empire, which gave him material power and resources to afford a big military and loyalty across Rome, which helped him restore order and peace in the Roman Empire (Galinsky, 2012). To exert his power, Caesar needed to control the masses. His legion military helped him in protecting the empire from external attacks, allowing it to grow economically, religiously, and politically. Consequently, he introduced a free republic while restoring the high most power to himself. This ensured that individuals contributed their ideas toward the development of the empire, but ultimately, he spearheaded the direction of his people. With his resources, Caesar gave the military troops constant financial aid that led to many reforms within the army. When he introduced pensions for the army, Caesar catered to the welfare of his troops, further promoting their loyalty to his authority (Galinsky, 2012). His wealth made him a tyrant, though peaceful (Lamp, 2009). As a tyrant, he enforced mandatory discipline on the subjects. This ensured that his rule was protected from constant revolts and civil wars, which promoted peace and order in Rome. Further, Caesar, through his advisers, was informed of threats and enemies to his empire. Therefore, he increased military operations toward the borders of his enemies, such as Syria (Rowell, 1962). This promoted security, peace, and order within the Roman Empire after decades of wars.
Under Caesar’s rule, Rome regained its global position due to increased developmental and cultural programs. Caesar invested a lot in artistry and religious and cultural activities (Lamp, 2009). His desire to restore the cultural values of Rome made him consult widely, leading to effective counsel from his advisers. The advisers helped him to address important issues affecting the Roman Emperors, including the expansion of security, festivals, games, and development programs (Lamp, 2009). Before his reign, the Roman gods were neglected and abandoned, with many temples destroyed. After he ascended to power, Caesar restored the faith in gods across Rome by restoring the temple, building new temples, and returning the worship of the gods. He was described as a favored man because he returned the gods’ favor back to the Roman people (Lamp, 2009). Consequently, religious festivals were highly practiced and respected during his reign, and Rome was always triumphant, indicating the atmosphere his rule provided for steady development. He restored good morals in Rome with his power which forced people to become subordinates to his blind faith. With his perceived good fortune, he invested in security and property (Lamp, 2009). Despite his Republican way of ruling, Caesar interacted with people in the Senate, allowing them to advise him on possible developments that would improve the lives of the Romans. All his decisions had to pass through the Senate to ensure that they were sound and feasible decisions. Seeking advice from the Senate increased the success rate of his decisions. This is because it gave him a broader perspective as well as kept him in touch with most of the needs of his citizens. He established a hierarchy of authority that was well-defined, which helped to enforce his rules on people. He was described as a man with a “sense of duty” (Rowell, 1962, p. 57). He was determined to promote justice that promoted security and peace. He was vitreous, protecting his integrity, therefore, dedicated to developing Rome faithfully.
Caesar was considered the Roman messiah because agricultural productivity was restored during his reign. The emperor was also associated with increased fertility and crop productivity which restored wealth in Rome (Del Mar 1900). Romans believed that before Caesar Augustus, the gods had stripped them of his favor, which led to famine and loss of fertility in the soil. However, Caesar’s rule was associated with increased fertility which saw Rome become richer globally. He encouraged a lot of sacrifices to the gods, which people assumed, was responsible for the increased fertility of their soils. He seized many lands from his enemies and settled the armies on those lands while also encouraging agriculture in the fertile ones (Lamp, 2009). This increased the agricultural harvests in Rome. Crop productivity and fertility of lands are critical in the overall development of any city or country, a principle that Caesar utilized. This also led to the expansion of the empire in population. His expansion included parts of Spain, Egypt, and Jewish lands (Galinsky, 2012). Seizure of lands also expanded trading routes that helped the Romans trade intensively in agricultural and non-agricultural products.
Caesar upheld censored power that suppressed people into what he needed. In addition to loyalty to the military, he lawfully controlled the churches by taking tithes and other revenues collected in churches for construction works that led to prosperity in Rome (Del Mar 1990). This helped in restoring order and integrity in Churches since priests and other religious leaders reported to the Empower. Further, it helped him monitor the worship practiced in Rome, thereby maintaining religious sanity and truth. With this power, he influenced all institutions in Rome, including the judiciary system. Given the high number of devotees, his rule was not characterized by civil unrest. He brought civil rest and prosperity to Rome (Rowell, 1962). Further, Caesar used his advisors to monitor and destroy any possible uprising or defiance. It also helped him in devising clear plans to expand his dynasty. Prosperity was not only depicted by his constructions but also by his worship which showed extreme admiration from his people for the changes he initiated during his rule. Caesar declared the city of Rome as the capital of his Empire (Rowell, 1962). This made the city the center of attraction and investment, elevating the status of Rome. New building programs were initiated, and major services moved to Rome (Rowell, 1962). Such declarations helped expand Rome.
In conclusion, Caesar Augustus was the Roman Emperor who accomplished much during his reign over the Roman people. During his reign, Caesar managed to employ multiple legions of soldiers that helped him assert his power. The military was loyal to him, given his dedication to taking care of their welfare. With a powerful military, Caesar triumphed over his enemies, seizing lands that expanded the Roman Empire. He used these lands to settle his soldiers and also practice agriculture. He protected all his borders, strategically targeting his neighboring enemies. With the large military troops, he was able to cover all bases that were vulnerable to enemies. He was a religious man; hence, he introduced religious practices that helped promote the religion and culture of the Roman people. He also invested in artistry, which helped to preserve and promote the culture of the Romans. He was a wise leader, given his consultations with the Senate. Caesar was known as a tyrant who forced people to submit and become his subordinates. However, despite being a tyrant, he brought peace, justice, and order to Rome. Rome expanded its wealth enormously during its reign. He expanded trading routes and trading activities, and products.
References
Del Mar, A. (1900). The Worship of Augustus Caesar. New York: Cambridge Encylopedia Co..
Galinsky, K. (2012). Augustus: Introduction to the Life of an Emperor. Cambridge University Press. doi:https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/valencia-ebooks/detail.action?docID=944700.
Lamp, K. (2009). The Ara Pacis Augustae: Visual Rhetoric in Augustus’ Principate. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 39(1), 1-24. doi:https://www.jstor.org/stable/40232573
Rowell, T. H. (1962). Rome in the Augustan Age. Oklohama: Norman University of Oklahoma Press.
write