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Julio-Claudian Emperors

The Settlement of 23

Ironically, for a world conqueror, Augustus was frequently sick throughout his life. In 23, probably still from overwork, he fell ill and nearly died. When he recovered, he again announced that he wished to retire from public life. It is likely that he was at least somewhat sincere this time, and that it took real persuasion to keep him in office. The experience convinced him that he had to share still more authority.

The so-called Settlement of 23 marks the end of the Augustan reforms. The genius of his creation was that he had kept all the old forms of the Republic, allowing those who wished to cling to the old to do so, even though it was by now only an illusion. He provided room for the Senate and the great families of Rome to have real power, though never on a scale that would allow any of them to come even close to rivalling that of the Julian family. It was, however, enough for the Senators to be content if they wished to be content. Some, of course, were not content and complained bitterly that Augustus had destroyed the Republic, but they were small voices during Augustus' reign. They would become louder under later emperors.

Having brought peace to the entire world, Augustus declared the civil wars officially over. The settlement achieved became the foundation of the Roman Empire for over 200 years. It's worth looking at in some detail.