Transcript Vergil`s World, p. 1-13

Vergil’s World, p. 1-13
Background of the Aeneid
Brief History
• 753 BC: Founding of Rome
– Monarchy with 7 Kings
• 509 BC: Republic
• 27 BC: Empire
*This transition from Republic to Empire
is when the Aeneid was written, NOT
when it takes place
#1) The First Triumvirate
• Members: Caesar (broker) and
Pompey & Crassus (power)
• Established in 60 B.C.
• This joining together of three men to
form a control was created because
each person wanted power and
something individually
• Its ineffectiveness was a result of
Caesar’s seizing control for himself
Timeline
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60 BC: Formation of 1st Triumvirate
59 BC: Caesar & Bibulus (consuls)
58 BC: Caesar went to Gaul
55 BC: Pompey & Crassus are consuls
54 BC: Julia dies
53-52 BC: Rioting in Rome; burning the Senate
house
• 49 BC: Caesar crossed the Rubicon and violated
the pomerium
• 44 BC: Caesar declared dictator for life
#2) Assassination of
Julius Caesar
• Events leading up to the assassination…
– Used Imperator as his name and the name of all
his heirs
– Wore purple - color from the King period
– Carried in a golden sedan chair
– Put up statues of himself
– Named a month after himself: July
– Had Mark Anthony try to put a crown on his
head
– Required magistrates to swear to protect the
person of J. Caesar and his acta
– Put up a temple to his “genius” (deification)
#2) Assassination of
Julius Caesar
• Motivation of the conspirators:
– Republicans: felt they owed loyalty to
the Republic and the Senate
– Jealous Men: wanted Caesar gone
– Hangers-On: loved the excitement of
the moment
#2) Assassination of
Julius Caesar
• Results…
– Confusion: the Senate did not reassert
itself
– Caesar’s party flourished after his death
due to support from devoted officers,
loyal veterans, and the city populace
• Led by Mark Anthony and Lepidus
Death of Caesar
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#3) Caesar’s Will
• Mark Anthony:
– Took possession of Caesar’s papers and expressed
rage at the murder
– Goes to Egypt: awaits the appointment as heir in
Caesar’s will
• Lepidus:
– Forced to Spain (concentrated the military power) and
acquired Gaul
• Octavian (18 yrs old in 44 BC)
– Named heir in the will (Gaius Julius Caesar
Octavianus)
– Stayed in Rome, raised an army, cooperated with the
Senate
– Cicero’s Philippic Orations in favor of Octavian
Mark Antony
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#4) 2nd Triumvirate
• Members: Octavian, Lepidus, and Mark
Anthony
• 42 BC: Octavian marches on Rome, made
consul, created Triumvirate, enforced a
proscription list (Cicero)
*PURPOSE: Create a Caesarian Party
• 42 BC: Triumvirate battles J. Caesar’s
conspirators (Brutus and Cassius) at the
Battle of Phillipi (Brutus and Cassius
commit suicide)
#4) 2nd Triumvirate
• 40 BC:
– Anthony - eastern provinces with
Cleopatra
– Octavian - western provinces in Rome
– Lepidus - given promises of provinces
• 38 BC: Anthony marries Octavia
#5) 2nd Triumvirate
(37-33 BCE)
• Breach between members widens
– A) Octavian has Agrippa as his master
general, Maecenas as his administrator
– B) Hellenistic movement to give Eastern
provinces to Cleopatra in Alexandria
– C) Lepidus retired
– D) Pompey killed
#6) Battle of Actium
• Leading up to the battle:
– Oriental propaganda in Rome v.
Anthony and Cleopatra in Egypt
– 14 years of Civil War since Caesar’s
murder
• Battle: 31 BC
– Octavian DEFEATS Mark Anthony and
Cleopatra in a naval battle
– Brings end to Civil War
Battle of Actium
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#6) Aftermath of
Battle of Actium
• 29 BC: Octavian celebrates victory
triumphs and parade
• 28 BC: Octavian and Agrippa were
censors and purged Senate of all
Caesar’s party members
ONE MAN RULE OF OCTAVIAN WAS
CREATED
#7) Honors from the
Senate
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Triumph (highest honor)
Granted title of Augustus
Protected by guards
Carried in the curule chair - symbol
of consulship
• Civic crown of oak leaves
• Month “Sextilis” renamed Augustus
Rule of Augustus:
Pater Patriae
• Governmental reforms were concealed in
the traditional form of the Republic
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Closed the doors of Janus
Institutions retained
Soldiers demobilized
No Senator could leave town without the
permission of the Princeps, the senior senator
– Pontifex Maximus gave him control of religion
#8) Augustus
• “Revered One” or “Honored One”
– Tiberius - step son
– Marcellus - nephew
* Both took this name too
• POWER: Army and Finances
– Controlled the legal system with these
#10) mores majorum
• Manners or customs of one’s ancestors
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STABILITY
Promote Romanization
Restore the former moral values
Bring back personal responsibility (esp. for
leaders)
– Revert back to the worship of ancient gods
THESE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORMS
WOULD SUPPORT THE POLITICAL GOALS
OF AUGUSTUS
#13) CIVIL REFORMS
• Imperial Civil Service
– Aqueducts, temples, highways
• Fire Service
• Police Service
#13) RELIGIOUS REFORMS
• Restore past in ethics and religion
• State Worship: holidays, ceremonies,
festivals, religious rites, sacrifices (i.e.
Troy Games)
• mores majorum
• Worship Genius Augusti
• Romanitas-Rome’s function in history as a
stabilizing political and moral force
*PIETAS: Proper subordination to the GODS,
STATE, HOUSEHOLD
#13) LAW REFORMS
• Changed law
• Increased “personal responsibility”
• Made people feel safe, organized,
and STABLE
#13) LITERATURE AND
ART REFORMS
• Produced themes to inspire and
conditions for writers
– “Golden Age” of writing: writing was a
profession (patrons)
• Themes: grandeur of the Roman past,
religious and social revival, glorious destiny of
the empire
• Produced art to dazzle Romans
– Painters, portraits, busts, statues
– Ara Pacis
#11) Other Authors
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Ovid
Catullus
Horace
Propertius
Tibullus
Livy: History of Rome
#12) Ara Pacis
• Altar to Pax Romana
• VISUAL monument (illiterate)
• Epic art - tells a story/history of
Rome
• Culminates in Augustus
RULE OF AUGUSTUS
• Achievements
– Established a
system of
government for the
Roman Empire
which lasted 5
centuries (476AD)
– Peace
– Consolidation of the
Roman Empire
• Weaknesses
– Ruthlessness
– Military control-use
army to make or
unmake leaders
– Wealthy minority
benefit from improved
conditions while the
gov. expenses hurt
the poor)
– People only looked to
Augustus for rewards
and advancement