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Julio-Claudian Period - Coggle Diagram
Julio-Claudian Period
Relationship with the senate
Claudius 41-54AD
included with Suetonius description of the take over is the idea that the senate would not only hate how the emperor was put in power but also the fact that they are side-lined as the third most important political power
(Josephus) The senate attempts to make itself more powerful following the death of Gaius, in fact they fell that they are going to set up a republican government but they misinterpret there power as the military is now the power in Rome (the senate has no backing) they tell people to go home and not riot showing that they are delusional.
It is said that ‘the people had no love for the senate’ the senate is doomed, they have no real power and end up begging on their knees the praetorian prefect to not put Claudius in charge and even if they do at least pretend like the senate puts him in charge (they want to save face).
his relationship with the senate is tense from the beginning (Suetonius) as he is put in power by force of the Praetorian guard and the senate is basically forced to accept him or be killed (after they had tried again to take power and return to the republic)
There is little evidence of formal opposition in the senate according to Suetonius although the relationship was poor
Gaius 37-41AD (Dio)
Gaius immediately takes all of the titles that had been given to Augustus over 50 years(except father of the fatherland which he takes later) the speed and ease with which this happens (as recorded by Dio and Suetonius) suggests the senate may have liked him to begin with
many senators (2 in particular) were involved in the assassination plot against him (which succeeded) we can assume therefore that he was not popular considering this fact
we know that Gaius was heavily influenced by Tiberius and we can assume that as Tiberius hates the senate so too may Gaius this is shown throughout his reign as he blatantly disregards them
Perhaps Suetonius cannot be trusted, he gives almost no sources when describing Gaius as a terrible person, the senate may have been nice to him because he wasn't that bas (horse senator story may have been a joke)
the story of the Horse consul shows that Gaius did indeed hate the senate if it is true (it seems to have been a joke that his horse would run the senate better than senators)
Tiberius 14-37AD (Tacitus)
the senate were unable to predict Tiberius desires which made them even more angry with him, sometimes he wanted them to defer to him sometimes he hated them for doing it
the Maestas trials display this well, Tiberius who had previously wanted the senate to stay neutral decided to sit in on their meetings and in the case of the trial against Lucius Ennius he went so far as to block the trial from occurring
Tiberius' relationship with the senate was very strained, initially he wanted to give them more control which they hated after more than 50 years of Augustan oppression
Tiberius is angry at the senate as he sees them as extremely submissive and even describes them as slaves showing just how poorly he views them, this is because Tiberius has always wanted a senate that could act on it’s own accord and not turn to him to give them every answer
Augustus (31BC-14AD)
relationship isn't EQUAL however Augustus being emperor forces the senate to give him titles and power (father of the fatherland etc)
the relationship Augustus and the senate had was relatively amicable, Augustus gives up all his special powers on Jan 13th and gives control of provinces and legions in them to the senate but was returned them 3 days later, this masquerade (as Augustus clearly keeps his power) shows that the senate and Augustus were able to work well together
Relationship with the senate more equal than later emperors, the senate contradicts and forces him to compromise on a number of occasions including his idea to create 3 consuls
(Tacitus) we are told that Augustus gives bribes to notable senators such as Macrobius to gain support in the senate, many in the senate would like him for this
using the constitutional settlements means Augustus does not rule Rome illegally, the senate may have seen this as a temporary situation or at least he is seen by the senate as a legal ruler
Nero 54-68AD (Seutonius)
Nero was initially good with the senate however their power is shown by the fact that they are only described as having voted to honour him and having been turned down, they were not involved in giving of gifts or issuing grain, Nero did that
Nero is hated by the senate as his reign continues, he is listed as having forced senatorial families to preform on stage, early pandering is replaced by viciousness although are sources are mostly senators
Augustan constitutional settlements (DIO)
Settlement 2
Augustus resigns consulship in favour of imperius maius giving him power over all proconsuls in all regions
granted tribunicia potestas for life giving him power over people in Rome, can veto senate bills and summon them etc
Settlement 3
begged to return as a consul following an attempt to take the consulship by force in 21-19BC, doesn't really accept but takes the role of consular imperium sitting between the two consuls with 12 lictors and fasces
became pontifex maximus in 12BC following the death of the previous one
in 2BC he became the father of the fatherland giving no extra powers but symbolising his control over the entirety of Rome in every way
Settlement 1
The right to declare war or peace was given to him
He will be elected consul every year until 23 BC, giving him imperium in Rome and authority over all other proconsuls and therefore all other provinces
Put in charge of massive provinces and where most armies are stationed (20), Strabo tells us these include, Syria, Spain, Egypt, Cecilia, Cyprus and Gaul
Given title of princeps meaning first citizen
learn which sources say what, name the writer
sometimes Suetonius
Mostly Tacitus and Dio