When Emperor Augustus died in AD 14 in his seventy-sixth years, he has been master, jointly or singly, of the Roman world for fifty -six years. During his tenure, he was able to end lengthy civil wars in the Roman Republic and created conducive socio-political conditions which ensured the perpetuation of peace, a period known as Pax Romano. Similarly, due to his good administrative capabilities that brought consistent taxation and other reforms the Roman Republic enjoyed a large measure of economic prosperity, intellectual culture and wide diffusion of Graeco- Roman material. His name Caesar Augustus became the title of imperial legitimacy, reign in fine arts and literature and architecture. This paper examines the biographical sketch of Augustus primarily focusing on his achievements and the impact he made to the future generations, people around him and the general public.
Caesar Augustus was born on September 23, 63 B.C., in Velletri. His father was the first Roman senator and who has the privilege of being elected to the highest office of the praetorship, which was ranked the second highest in the political hierarchy of Consulship ( Yarrow, 2018). Augustus mother also came from the Roman ruling family, as she was the sister of Julius Caesar. At the age of 12, Augustus made a powerful speech in memory of his grandmother, which made him receive the coveted membership of the board of priests (pontifices). With time, Augustus gained the trust of Julius Caesar and began spending a considerable amount of time with him, including joining in a military campaign in Spain.
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The military campaign in Spain prompted him to study academic and military studies in Apollonia. Just after completing his studies, he learned that a group of senators had assassinated Caesar. Augustus learned that Caesar had bequeathed him a generous inheritance of becoming his chief personal heir. However, upon returning to Rome, Caesar's chief lieutenant adamantly refused to hand him the principal their papers. To acquire what belonged to him, Augustus took a different strategy of mobilizing the city populace to reject the self-imposed Caesar, Marcus Antonius. He was able to win a considerable number of people to his allegiance. The Senate joined the campaign in favor of Augustus and compelled Marcus to withdraw the race ( Yarrow, 2018). The Senate conferred Augustus consulship and secured him the official recognition Caesar of Rome.
Generally, it can be stated that Augustus used the Roman Republic system including traditional positions and inheritance to gain power. However, Augustus used his position to impact the lives of his subjects and future generations in the following ways. Augustus took power when civil wars were the order of the day in Rome. The lengthy civil wars had led to moral decadence. People have lost faith in their gods and temples across the empire no longer existed ( Langlands, 2014) . He believed that religion was an essential aspect of the Roman empire as it enhanced togetherness and molarity ( Langlands, 2014) . In his reign, he, therefore, swore to revive this important aspect. Augustus oversaw the rebuilding and renewal of temples across the Roman Empire. He went to the extent of initiating more projects that focused primarily on building more places of worship. It is through these initiatives that traditional goods and spirits were revived in Rome. Besides, many of the old popular festivals that had died a long time ago returned.
Before Augustus came into power, the previous government had an inefficient financial system that focused on a taxation system that was harsh to the subjects making them revolt against the system. Augustus had to come with an effective financial system in the empire that would ensure that the subjects gained maximum benefits. Augustus thus came with a consistent direct taxation system on all provinces in the empire. The direct system comprised of two significant taxes: the poll tax and the land tax ( Gieseler, 2007). There were also other taxes such as the slave taxes that helped in boosting the overall financial system. Augustus financial taxing system significantly increased the revenues collected as compared to what was collected in the empire before. The realm was able to enjoy a relatively stable relationship with the provinces ensuring a peaceful co-existence. The subjects and the future generations were also able to enjoy critical developments in the empire and the provinces that were initiated by the collected taxes.
The effective financial system also contributed to some significant reforms in the monetary system. Before, the gold coin popularly known as the aureus and denarius were produced in large quantities, making the currency lose its value. Immediately Augustus assumed office, he instituted comprehensive reforms that foresaw the production of denominations that were below the denarius such as the red copper and zinc. The coinage system provided a stimulus to trade throughout the Roman Empire ( Langlands, 2014) . The money that was created through trade was channeled into the empire in keeping the Romans happy by beautifying the capital regarding building magnificent buildings, enlarging the empire and well-built roads.
Rome never enjoyed perpetual peace and prosperity due to chaotic civil wars. Peace and prosperity were only for a certain bracket of people mainly the ruling class and the middle class. Pax Romana was only existent for them but not the poor and slaves who have played a critical role in rebuilding Rome. When Augustus came into power, he created a capable army in the history of Rome. The primary army mandate would be making Rome safe from the enemies and barbarians attacks, and make Rome secure. Besides, Vigiles Urbani popularly known as the watchmen of the city used to be used in combating common problems such as conducting night watch throughout the streets and problems of fires ( Gieseler, 2007). These measures helped in stabilizing the Roman Empire, and people were able to experience the most significant period of peace and prosperity. This is something that even his fathers were not able to do and could not do. Augustus began what could be later be called the Pax Roman -the Roman peace.
The achievements of Augustus show that he was a daring leader who knew how to influence people. He was also a transformational leader who understood his key being in transforming the lives of his subjects for the better. These key attributes saw his reign is marked by innovation, peace, equal distribution of wealth and reviving of lost traditions that kept the populace satisfied and happy. All these accomplishments established by Augustus and maintained by his successor ironically played a critical role in the spread of Christianity. It is through the extensive network of roads that enabled missionaries to carry out their activities of spreading the gospel( Yarrow,2018). This shows the impact that his achievement had not only to the people that lived but also to the future generations.
In conclusion, Augustus was the first emperor of Rome. He replaced the Roman republic with an active monarchy that rebuilds the chaotic Rome with a long reign that brought peace and stability. This is a lesson to individuals who are placed in the position of authority that they should strive towards achieving worthwhile goals as much as they can.
References
Gieseler, C. (2007). The Achievements of Augustus-The Transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.
Langlands, R. (2014). Exemplary influences and Augustus’ pernicious moral legacy. POWER, T.; GIBSON, R.(Eds.). Suetonius, the biographer. Studies in Roman Lives. Oxford: OUP , 111-129.
Yarrow, L. (2018). Nicolaus of Damascus: The Life of Augustus and The Autobiography by Mark Toher. Classical World , 111 (3), 440-441.
