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Julio-Claudian Emperors

Death of Augustus

Caesar Augustus died on the 14th of September in the year 14 AD. Three days later, he was declared divine, and shrines for his worship were built. Indeed, such shrines had existed even before his death, but he would not countenance them, so they remained private while he was alive. His elevation to divine status didn't mean people thought the man himself was a god; rather, it was a sign of deep respect and signified that his spirit, his soul, would be taken into the company of the gods.

He left some interesting instructions to Tiberius in his will. Three points are notable. First, he recommended that Tiberius restrict the granting of citizenship and the freeing of slaves. Citizenship would be devalued if extended too freely, and slaves were critical to the functioning of the economy (there was, in the early first century, something of a fad of manumission).

Second, he said to rely only on men of tried ability. He was recommending against playing favorites, against granting offices to friends and relatives unless they truly were worthy.

Finally, and above all, Augustus instructed Tiberius to keep the Empire within the bounds he had set for it. Augustus had been badly shaken by the defeat of Varro at the Teutoburger Wald, and he was certain that further disasters awaited if Rome should become over-extended.

It is worth noting that, over the course of the next two centuries, Roman emperors violated each of these three recommendations.

The succession went smoothly. There were no revolts, no mass uprising to bring back the Republic. In the first place, few wanted the Republic back. In the second place, Augustus had provided for everything in his will. This system required that the emperor die in old age and with time for planning. That would not always prove to be the case.