Started this book on the plane and am taking a lot of notes. Since no one reads this, I'm just going to list my impressions thus far, up to Chapter 10 or page 110. This book has made me realize that the transition of power between Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar was no walk in the park, nor did it happen over night. It took years and wars and much blood was spilled. Why do men do this? One word: Power.
1.) Augustus was in the right place at the right time. --> With the assassination of Julius Caesar, Augustus was poised, along with Mark Anthony, to take power. There were other powerful players, but none closer to Caesar. Mark Anthony had more military experience, but Augustus had more cunning. He also had the backing of his family and an adversary in his mother, Atia, and step-father Philippus. Although Philippus wavered, he supported Augustus in the end.
2.) Augustus disliked to fight wars as a 'solider.' --> This point troubles me. Though out history, Augustus Caesar had the reputation as a great leader. I guess this didn't follow through on to the battle field. He also had a great reputation for savagery, which I would assume, but was not aware. Killing people after battle shows little respect or gravitas. Anthony was even troubled, according to the book, to his treatment of Brutus's body after his death. But like Machiavelli says in The Prince, power corrupts.
This leads on to ponder the question of Augustus's virtue; was it good? It can be said that to achieve good by evil means is virtuous. But isn't it better to achieve good by honorable or moral means? I would like to think the latter. History has given Augustus a powerful reputation. By reading this book, it can be seen that Augustus calculatingly got to where he was and that Fortuna smiled down on him for some reason.
3.) Republican/Optimates Rome was beyond corrupt. But is purging the Old Guard Republicans a good thing to do. Wasn't that just more of the same, but with the Populares? Human life seemed to have a very small price to Augustus. Ordering killing came easily to him in his younger years.
4.) Anthony's application of divinity to achieve power over the people. Cleopatra styled herself as the daughter of Isis and Anthony that of Bacchus. Anthony and Cleopatra just don't occur - there is a 3-4 year break between their first encounter and their future encounter. Cleopatra has a child with Caesar, Caesarian, Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene and Ptlomey Philadelphius. Caesarian and Antyllus, Antnony's son from his first marriage to Fulvia are killed; where as the younger 3 are raised by Octavia in Rome. Cleopatra Selene goes on to marry a King in Numedia, leaves Rome and takes her two brothers with her. No more is ever heard of the them. Caesarian and Antyllus are killed because they were considered men and a threat to Octavian.
Anthony defeated at the Battle of Actium. Anthony's and Cleopatra's troops were stationed in Pelusium. Gaius Cornellius Gallus, a poet, had command of Octavian's troops. Agrippa masterminds the land and sea attacks on Anthony. Alexandria falls to Octavian. He does not loot the city, rather he learns from it.
Anthony thinks Cleopatra is dead and kills himself. Cleopatra is not dead, but hidden in a temple. She then kills herself, rather than be taken hostage by Octavian, illegibly with an asp. This might not be so, as asps were large and had to smuggle into the temple in a smaller basket. Somehow she poisoned herself, rather than be taken alive. Done.
5. Roman Values cerca 40 BC -
12. Augustus's success was based on who he had around him. Agrippa in earlier years and a combination of Agrippa/Tiberius/Drusus in future. Tiberius also lead many victorious campaigns for Augustus. Augustus surrounded himself with the best and brightest.
Augustus also did much to try to continue the bloodline of the Julian clan. He made Tiberius divorce Vipsania, Agrippa's daughter whom he loved, to marry Julia, Augustus's daughter from a previous marriage. They had no children. Drusus's wife, Antonia, Octavia's daughter, had 2 sons. Germanicus and Claudius.
1.) Augustus was in the right place at the right time. --> With the assassination of Julius Caesar, Augustus was poised, along with Mark Anthony, to take power. There were other powerful players, but none closer to Caesar. Mark Anthony had more military experience, but Augustus had more cunning. He also had the backing of his family and an adversary in his mother, Atia, and step-father Philippus. Although Philippus wavered, he supported Augustus in the end.
2.) Augustus disliked to fight wars as a 'solider.' --> This point troubles me. Though out history, Augustus Caesar had the reputation as a great leader. I guess this didn't follow through on to the battle field. He also had a great reputation for savagery, which I would assume, but was not aware. Killing people after battle shows little respect or gravitas. Anthony was even troubled, according to the book, to his treatment of Brutus's body after his death. But like Machiavelli says in The Prince, power corrupts.
This leads on to ponder the question of Augustus's virtue; was it good? It can be said that to achieve good by evil means is virtuous. But isn't it better to achieve good by honorable or moral means? I would like to think the latter. History has given Augustus a powerful reputation. By reading this book, it can be seen that Augustus calculatingly got to where he was and that Fortuna smiled down on him for some reason.
3.) Republican/Optimates Rome was beyond corrupt. But is purging the Old Guard Republicans a good thing to do. Wasn't that just more of the same, but with the Populares? Human life seemed to have a very small price to Augustus. Ordering killing came easily to him in his younger years.
4.) Anthony's application of divinity to achieve power over the people. Cleopatra styled herself as the daughter of Isis and Anthony that of Bacchus. Anthony and Cleopatra just don't occur - there is a 3-4 year break between their first encounter and their future encounter. Cleopatra has a child with Caesar, Caesarian, Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene and Ptlomey Philadelphius. Caesarian and Antyllus, Antnony's son from his first marriage to Fulvia are killed; where as the younger 3 are raised by Octavia in Rome. Cleopatra Selene goes on to marry a King in Numedia, leaves Rome and takes her two brothers with her. No more is ever heard of the them. Caesarian and Antyllus are killed because they were considered men and a threat to Octavian.
Anthony defeated at the Battle of Actium. Anthony's and Cleopatra's troops were stationed in Pelusium. Gaius Cornellius Gallus, a poet, had command of Octavian's troops. Agrippa masterminds the land and sea attacks on Anthony. Alexandria falls to Octavian. He does not loot the city, rather he learns from it.
Anthony thinks Cleopatra is dead and kills himself. Cleopatra is not dead, but hidden in a temple. She then kills herself, rather than be taken hostage by Octavian, illegibly with an asp. This might not be so, as asps were large and had to smuggle into the temple in a smaller basket. Somehow she poisoned herself, rather than be taken alive. Done.
5. Roman Values cerca 40 BC -
- Fides - Trust
- Pietas - Dutiful respect toward the gods, homeland and parents/family
- Religio - "bind", bond between the gods and man as carried out by religious practice for preserving the "pax deorum", Peace of the Gods
- Cultus - Active observance and correct performance of ritual
- Disciplina - Education and training
- Gravitas - Dignified self-control
- Constantia - Steadiness and perserverance
- Virtus - Ideal Roman Man, knows good from evil
- Dignitas - Reputation of worth
- Autoritas - Prestige and respect
6. Plague (typhoid fever) in Rome 24 -23 BC accompanied by the Tiber flooding and food shortages.
7. Octavian and Tiberius both afraid of thunder and lightening. Wore laurel wreaths on their heads to ward it off.
8. Octavian dyslexic. Interesting
9. Agrippa was a military genius and instrumental in all of Octavian's military victories moving from Republic to Empire.
10. It took 17 years and many wars to transition from Republic to Empire. It just didn't happen over night. Caesar kill in 44 BC until the establishment of the Empire in 27 BC.
- 43 BC Caesarian War - Mutina
- 42 BC Caesarian War - Philippi
- 41 BC Caesarian War - Perusia/Fulvia's doing...
- 36 BC Caesarian War - Naulachus, Mylex
- 36 BC Parthian War - Phraaspa
- 31 BC Caesarian War - Battle of Actium - 3-4 more years go by until Octavian becomes Augustus Caesar and establishes the Empire. "Restored Republic"
Tacitus called it "the death of liberty." A dictatorship or autocracy was established. The Senate still had power, it's just that Augustus controlled it all.
This was news to me as I thought the transition was immediate. Octavian had to get rid of Lepidus and Mark Anthony. Plus he had to have the Senate on his side. All of this happened based on who Octavian had around him. eg. Agrippa. Agrippa was a tactical military genius. Octavian was a good administrator and manipulator. All quite fascinating when Roman values are taken into account.
11. In the Empire, Augustus tries to bring back more traditional Roman values. Lex Julia. He exiles his daughter Julia and grand daughter Julia over time. (There are also political considerations in their exiles which are discussed further in the book.)
12. Augustus's success was based on who he had around him. Agrippa in earlier years and a combination of Agrippa/Tiberius/Drusus in future. Tiberius also lead many victorious campaigns for Augustus. Augustus surrounded himself with the best and brightest.
Augustus also did much to try to continue the bloodline of the Julian clan. He made Tiberius divorce Vipsania, Agrippa's daughter whom he loved, to marry Julia, Augustus's daughter from a previous marriage. They had no children. Drusus's wife, Antonia, Octavia's daughter, had 2 sons. Germanicus and Claudius.
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Chapter VI - From Victory, Defeat
Roman Legion - 4,000 to 6,000 men, divided into 10 companies.
Chapter X - Fighting Neptune: War Ships in Roman Empire
Trimere - 3 or 4 banks of oars. Oars grouped together in 3's with one man per oar. The ship was 150 feet long and would displace 230 tons of water. Trimere could be capable of 7 -10 knots, but found it hard to cope with storms (wind) with square rigging. There could also be brass battering rams on the prow. The usual tact was to ram the side of the opposing ship.
Quinqueremes - One bank of oars with 5 men pulling each oar.
Chapter VI - From Victory, Defeat
Roman Legion - 4,000 to 6,000 men, divided into 10 companies.
Chapter X - Fighting Neptune: War Ships in Roman Empire
Trimere - 3 or 4 banks of oars. Oars grouped together in 3's with one man per oar. The ship was 150 feet long and would displace 230 tons of water. Trimere could be capable of 7 -10 knots, but found it hard to cope with storms (wind) with square rigging. There could also be brass battering rams on the prow. The usual tact was to ram the side of the opposing ship.
Quinqueremes - One bank of oars with 5 men pulling each oar.
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