Transcript Vergil, the Aeneid, and Augustus

Vergil, the Aeneid, and Augustus
An Introduction
Foundation
A long time ago in a country
pretty far away…
Alba Longa  Rome
Monarchy
I. Romulus
II. Numa Pompilius
III. Tullus Hostilius
IV. Ancus Marcius
Etruscans
-Tarquinius
Priscus
-Servius
Tullius
-Tarquinius
Superbus
The Roman Republic
• 509 BC
• 2 consuls: Brutus and Collatinus
Conflicts with Carthage
• 264-241 BC
• 218-201 BC
• 149-146 BC
Mediterranean Domination
Marius and Sulla
The Fight
The senate gave a command
to Sulla, but the people’s assembly
gave the command to Marius
-
Consul 7 times
One of Rome’s best generals
popularis
Reformed military eligibility
-
Marius’ lieutenant
optimas
Consul 88 BC
Dictator 81-79
Huge Reforms
Marius and Sulla
- Initiates the downfall of the Roman Republic
- Marius’ new policy of using the capite censi
switches soldiers’ loyalties.
- Generals have private armies.
- Settling veterans an issue.
- Rise of the Tribune as a political power creates
political problems.
- Sulla’s march on Rome and proscriptions set a
precedent.
Julius Caesar
*100 BC – 44 BC
*Consul in 59 BC
*War in Gaul (59-51)
First Triumvirate
• 60 BC – 53 BC
• Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar
Civil War
- Caesar has a massive army in Gaul
- Senate becomes very concerned that
Caesar will use his army to get whatever
he wants
Civil War
-Caesar’s daughter and Pompey’s wife,
Julia, dies
-Crassus is defeated at Carrhae fighting
the Parthians
-Pompey becomes leader of the
Senate, who use him to get at
Caesar
Civil War – Caesar’s Rubicon
- Caesar’s imperium expires in 48 BCE, and he
wants to run
for consul
again in
absentia.
- He knows, if he leaves his province and
comes back to Rome as a private citizen,
he’ll be put on trial by his enemies.
Civil War - Caesar’s Rubicon
- The Senate, led by Pompey, reject Caesar’s
request to run for the consulship in absentia.
- Caesar crosses
the northern boundary
of Italia, the Rubicon,
and thus declares
civil war.
IMAGE: http://www.stormwater-solutions-engineering.com/Images/pictures/rubicon%20river.jpg
Civil War
- Pompey and the Senate flee Rome
immediately.
- Caesar installs himself as Dictator and fills
the Senate with his allies and
supporters.
- Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus in
48 BCE.
- Caesar is elected Dictator Perpetuus in
February, 44 BCE.
Dictator and Death
Rise of Octavian
- Born in 63 BC
- Caesar’s grand-nephew
- Declared Caesar’s chief
heir (3/5 of Caesar’s
legacy)
Octavian and Antony
- Octavian has to mitigate Antony’s influence by
a) discrediting Antony (rumor)
b) obtaining the money Caesar left to him
c) obtaining legions
Octavian and Antony
• Battle of Mutina (April 21st, 43 BC)
- Octavian fights on behalf of the consuls
(Hirtius and Pansa)
- Antony fights against the consuls
- Octavian and consuls win, although both
consuls die in the process
- Octavian is elected consul and obtains
their legions
Second Triumvirate
Triumviri ad rem publicam reconstituendam
- Created in 43 BCE to deal with the
conspirators
- Brutus, Cassius, and others are defeated
at Philippi in 42 BCE
- Triumvirs don’t have much money, so
they rely on proscriptions (like Sulla).
Antony takes
Gaul, and
the East
Octavian takes
Spain, Africa, Sardinia, Sicilia
42 BCE – after
original triumviral
organization and
Philippi
Second Triumvirate
After Philippi, the two met at Brundisium for
battle (Octavian stole some more legions
from Antony), but their troops refused to
fight, so they renewed the triumvirate for
another five years (37 BC).
Second Triumvirate
The good feelings don’t last:
- Octavian defeats Sextus Pompeius at
Naulochus (gains military glory)
- Lepidus is relieved of his power and sent
back to Rome (for treachery against
Octavian)
- Octavian sends Octavia to pay a visit to
Antony (and Cleopatra) in Egypt
Antony goes Rogue
- Although married to Octavia (Octavian’s
sister), Antony openly couples with
Cleopatra, who bears him three children
- Antony holds a Roman military triumph
over Armenia/Parthia in Egypt
- Donations of Alexandria
Donations of Alexandria
Antony gives…
- Parthia to Alexander Helios
- Syria and Asia Minor to Ptolomy Philodelphus
- Cyrenaica and Crete to Cleopatra Selene
Antony declares…
- that Caesarion/Ptolomy Caesar is the legitimate son of
Julius Caesar
- that Caesarion/Ptolomy Caesar is “King of Kings” and
Cleopatra is “Queen of Queens”
Octavian Provokes War
- Octavian spreads word of the Donations at
Rome
- The new consuls of 33 verbally challenge
Octavian, who responds by bringing soldiers
into Rome. 300-400 senators flee to Antony
- Octavian reads Antony’s will out to the Senate
Civil War
- In 32 BCE,
Antony divorces
Octavia.
- Octavian
declares war on
Cleopatra and
Antony in 32 BC.
- Antony and Cleopatra are defeated at the Battle
of Actium by Octavian and his general Marcus
Agrippa in 31 BCE.
IMAGE: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Battle_of_Actium_en.svg/716px-Battle_of_Actium_en.svg.png
Aftermath of Actium
- Antony and Cleopatra flee to Alexandria
and commit suicide.
- Octavian annexes Egypt (and all its
wealth) as a Roman province.
- Octavian returns to Rome in August of
30 BCE.
Octavian in Rome
- 36 BC: Senate votes Octavian a residence on the
Palatine
- 33 BC: Agrippa’s aedileship brings rebuilding of
the water supply, one new aqueduct, fountains,
a bath complex, and millions of dollars in gifts to
all Roman citizens
- 29 BC: celebrates a triple triumph (Dalmatia,
Actium, Alexandria)
- 28 BC: Augustus and Agrippa annul the acts of
the Triumvirs
Octavian in Rome
- Octavian perpetuates his personal
mythology (Atia, Nigidius, Cicero, Catulus)
- 28 BC: The Temple of Apollo opens
- Rebuilds a new Curia Julia
- Builds a Temple of the Divine Julius
Caesar
- Rebuilds the Rostra with “beaks” from
Actium
Octavian’s Settlement
- On the Ides of January, 27 BCE, he returns all power
back to the Senate.
- The Senate responds by begging him to take it all
back.
- Octavian is given:
a. the cognomen Augustus
b. the “province” of Spain, Gaul, and Syria (and its
accompanying 20 legions)
c. imperial review over every other province
d. laurel and oak on his home’s doorpost
e. a golden shield in the curia for his valor,
clemency, justice, and piety
Augustus Princeps
Ruled from
27 BC – 14 AD
- Expansion
- Building
- Establish an heir
Pax Augustana
Building Program
Restores 82 Temples
Temple of Apollo and Palatine
Campus Martius (Theater of Marcellus,
Porticus Octaviae, Saepta Julia, Ara Pacis,
and Mausoleum of Augustus)
Forum Romanum (Jupiter Tonans, Aureum
Millearium)
Forum of Augustus and Temple of Mars Ultor
Pax Augustana
Moral Program and mos maiorum
Tax breaks and exemptions for married,
multiple children, etc.
All Patrician males must be married
Aeneid taught to school children (replaces
Ennius’ Annales)
Ludi Saeculares
Pax Augustana
Literary Program
Horace: Odes, Epodes, Carmen Saeculare
Propertius: Elegies
Tibullus: Elegies
Livy: Ab urbe condita
Vergil: Eclogues, Georgics, Aeneid