CLA231H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Imperium, Pontifex Maximus, Pater Patriae
Document Summary
After octavian returned from the east, he formally returned power to the senate but with some conditions. Octavian kept command of several provinces in the most dangerous areas, thus he controlled most of the legions. Other senators governed places where it was peaceful and had little troops so they could not march on rome. Octavian did not command in the provinces but sent legates instead. Octavian mainly sent equites and junior senators. All of this was to prevent powerful senators from facing off against one another. Octavian was granted consulship every year and was given the titles augustus and named the month august after him. Augustus relinquished his consulship because it was not important to his powers, this action made many senators happy because it allowed them to take the position instead. Augustus already had all of these powers but they were now formally in place. Princeps the first/ leading man in the senate.
