Augustus Ceasar :: Essays Papers

Augustus CeasarTwo of the most destructive problems facing the late Roman Republic werethe instability and disunity caused by incessant courtly wars. Romes rapidexpansion, after the Punic Wars, resulted in socioeconomic changes thatpermanently divided the state. Both aristocratic and plebeian parties soughttotal control of Rome and tried and true to destroy each other. Civil war was thecontinuation of party politics by other means. Consequently, the power of themilitary became supreme. Control of Romes armies steadily shifted away fromthe certain government to the generals because the soldiers began to give theirallegiance to their generals rather than to the civil authorities. On dismissalfrom military service, the legionnaires had no farms to return to, and theydepended entirely on whatever land and capital their generals could provide sincethe government was unwilling or unable to supply veterans with livelihoods.Thus, the generals became autonomous centers of power. Th e general whodominated the strongest army ruled the state. Repeated power struggles ofthese military strongmen ignited more civil wars that further undermined thestability and unity of the late Roman Republic.Augustus saw how divisive to the Roman polity civil war was. He silentthat control of the legions by the civil government was necessary for theestablishment of peace and order throughout the Roman imperium. He wanted toreorganize and institute changes in the military to assure that it would not riseagain in support of some triumphant general to challenge the legitimacy of thestate. Since warfare within the Empire was eliminated, the role of thelegions changed. Its main objectives consisted in protecting the borders fromforeign foes and pacifying conquered lands through the gradual introduction ofthe Roman language, law, administration, and engineering. Augustus priority wasto reduce the number of the legions from 60 to 28, settling in the process morethan 100,000 vetera ns in colonies in Italy, Africa, Asia, and Syria. Whileproscription financed previous resettlement efforts, the vast wealth of Egypt,which he seized after Antonys defeat, subsidized Augustus massiveresettlement program. He raised the troops salary and regularized the paymentof pensions, which consisted of land and money, to veterans. Augustus, thus,reduced the old threat of soldiers giving their allegiance to wealthy generalsrather than to the state. He also like the length of military service.The Roman legion became a professional, long service force with an esprit decorp that earlier legions did not have. Each legion was commanded by an incumbent