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Julio-Claudian Emperors

Augustus' Later Years

As he grew older, Augustus became increasingly preoccupied with the question of the succession. What he did in this regard was critically important for the future of his arrangements.

Everything Augustus had done was done by virtue of his personal authority. There was nothing in the Roman constitution, nothing in the structure of the assemblies or public offices, that would guarantee anyone in the future would have his power.

But both by his own laws, and by general consensus, there would be no return to the Republic upon his death. Not least among Augustus' accomplishments was the fact that he lived a long life and was able to see many of his opponents to the grave. The only question now was who would succeed him.

Augustus' successor would come from his own family. That accorded with his own inclinations and with the temperment of Rome in general. And in this, Augustus suffered one tragedy after another. All his favorites died, some under suspicious circumstances, until the only one left with a claim was his stepson Tiberius. He respected Tiberius as a military commander, but he did not like the man and he had a low opinion of his political abilities.

Still, by 12 AD, Tiberius was the only male family member of any competence left standing. So Augustus designated him as his successor.

Thus the precedent was set. The Roman state would not choose the next emperor. Rather, the emperor would be drawn from the family of Julius, and chosen by the emperor himself. The army, the wealth, the offices, the power, all would devolve to him.

This was not a particularly good system, and it would come back to haunt the Empire, time and time again. For the time being, though, all seem well arranged.