Augustus Ceasar :: Essays Papers

Augustus CeasarTwo of the most destructive problems facing the young roman print Republic werethe in constancy and disunity caused by incessant urbane wars. Romes rapidexpansion, after the Punic Wars, resulted in socioeconomic changes thatpermanently divided the state. two aristocratic and plebeian parties soughttotal control of Rome and essay to destroy each other. Civil war was thecontinuation of party political relation by other means. Consequently, the power of themilitary became supreme. Control of Romes armies steadily shifted international fromthe legitimate government to the generals because the soldiers began to give theirallegiance to their generals rather than to the civil authorities. On dismissalfrom military service, the legionnaires had no farms to return to, and theydepended entirely on whatsoever land and money their generals could provide sincethe government was unwilling or otiose to supply veterans with livelihoods.Thus, the generals became autonomo us centers of power. The general whodominated the strongest army ruled the state. repeat power struggles ofthese military strongmen ignited more civil wars that further undermined thestability and unity of the late Roman Republic.Augustus saw how divisive to the Roman regulation civil war was. He understoodthat control of the legions by the civil government was necessary for theestablishment of peace and order throughout the Roman Empire. He wanted toreorganize and institute changes in the military to confirm that it would not riseagain in support of some elated general to challenge the legitimacy of thestate. Since warfare within the Empire was eliminated, the intent of thelegions changed. Its main objectives consisted in protecting the borders fromforeign foes and pacifying conquered lands through the gradual origination ofthe Roman language, law, administration, and engineering. Augustus priority wasto reduce the number of the legions from 60 to 28, settling in the p rocess morethan 100,000 veterans in colonies in Italy, Africa, Asia, and Syria. Whileproscription financed preceding(prenominal) resettlement efforts, the vast wealth of Egypt,which he seized after Antonys defeat, subsidized Augustus spaciousresettlement program. He raised the troops salary and regularized the paymentof pensions, which consisted of land and money, to veterans. Augustus, thus, trim back the old threat of soldiers giving their allegiance to wealthy generalsrather than to the state. He also standardized the length of military service.The Roman legion became a professional, long service force with an esprit decorp that earlier legions did not have. separately legion was commanded by an officer