tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613172230829177652.post4210402641523619642..comments2023-10-28T03:58:03.312-07:00Comments on Arts In History: Who was the first Roman Emperor? Cesar, Augustus, Claudius?Professor Markus Vinzenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207418071078727708noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613172230829177652.post-32809660050379990332012-02-10T07:25:39.963-08:002012-02-10T07:25:39.963-08:00Good Morning Markus, and salutations
Thanks for yo...Good Morning Markus, and salutations<br />Thanks for your learned response. I could discuss Republican Roma and Imperial Roma with you indefinitely, as it is a subject of which I have had an avid interest since childhood. I found your response fascinating. There are manifold misconceptions in relation to Ancient Rome, some I afford scant regard, others I find eternally tedious...Shakespeare has a great deal to answer for. You are absolutely correct in that Emperor is the latter day translation of the title "Imperator." As you stated, the honour was bestowed upon a victorious General by his legions. This acclamation was invariably followed by the award of a Triumph. This was generally a political manoeuvre on the slippery road to a senior Consulship. JC had 4 Triumphs back to back a short time before his assassination (during the Senators' muster outside the Curia Pompeius in Pompey's theatre).<br />JC was proclaimed Imperator before his crossing of the Rubicon, without which he would never have taken such an unprecedented step. Although he was later proclaimed Dictator for life, he was never given the title King, as he wished to maintain the ethos of the Republic (if only in name).<br />His Great Nephew and adopted son Octavianus (Octavian, Octavius, Augustus, take your pick) on Caesar's death, legally assumed his full name of Caius Julius Caesar. This can be where confusion sets in, as there were then in fact two Romans bearing that name (three if you also include Caesar's father). But only one living. When Augustus was given that name, he was also bestowed with the Imperial title "Imperator" and later Augustus. "Emperor" which then bore a different meaning and understanding, akin to a monarch, differing from the hitherto military title. Augustus tried his best to cling onto the ethos of the Republic, but he had the power of a King, and used it.<br />The Republic all but died on the accession of his step son, Tiberius, (who never wanted to become Emperor, it was his mother, Liva's, intervention). Again myth would teach us that Livia murdered Augustus with poisoned figs to achieve those ends. In fact, they were in love until the day he died, which was during his absence from Livia. The Senate became the mouth piece of the Emperor.<br />I find all this disappointing, even to an extent sad. Due to men's greed and their lust for power, there evolved many Civil Wars, destroying the greatest civilization in history. If the true Republic proliferated, and the powerful positions of consuls done away with, there would never have been a Sulla, a Marius, a Pompey or a Caesar...they would simply have been successful politicians. Again, if Caesar hadn't shown such impossible clemency to the likes of Brutus, there would never have been the fated conspiracy on the Ides of Martivs, and no civil war. If only...<br />I'm confident there is not an iota in this missive that is in any way new to you. But in conclusion, I am "as constant as the North Star" Caesar was not the first Emperor, it was Augustus.<br />Great exchanging views, and best wishes, Ivor Llewellyn-JonesProfessor Markus Vinzenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207418071078727708noreply@blogger.com