Difference between revisions of "Constitutional reforms of Julius Caesar"

List example: 45, 35, 28 BC.

[[Image:Caesar augustus.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Augustus as a magistrate; the statue's marble head was made c. 31–20 BC, the body sculpted in the 2nd century AD]]

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May 4, 45, 35, 28 BC

4, 45, 35, 28 BC

14th century <small>BC</small>

2nd millennium BC

2550{{r|MvsG5}}<small>BC</small>

Maiden whom Philip married either in 439{{r|MvsG2}}/38{{r|MvsG3}} or c. 437{{r|MvsG4}}/36{{r|MvsG5}}{{nbsp}}BC and was his seventh wife

Decade ranges.

Consul in 632 or 534, 522, 600 - 484, 481 and 479 BC.

the historian [[Polybius]] ({{circa|200}} – {{circa|118 BC}}), a Greek general sent to Rome

the historian [[Polybius]] ({{circa|200 – 118 BC}}), a Greek general sent to Rome

9,000 - 8,000 BC

{{bc-y|1,234 BC|t|1234}}

Between his crossing of the [[Rubicon|Rubicon River]] in {{bc-y|49 BC}}, and his [[Ides of March|assassination]] in {{bc-y|44&nbsp;BC}}, Caesar established a new constitution, which was intended to accomplish three separate goals.<ref name="Abbott, 133">Abbott, 133</ref> First, he wanted to suppress all armed resistance out in the provinces, and thus bring order back to the Republic. Second, he wanted to create a strong central government in Rome. And finally, he wanted to knit together the entire Republic into a single cohesive unit.<ref name="Abbott, 133">Abbott, 133</ref> The first goal was accomplished when Caesar defeated Pompey and his supporters.<ref name="Abbott, 133">Abbott, 133</ref> To accomplish the other two goals, he needed to ensure that his control over the government was undisputed,<ref name="Abbott, 134">Abbott, 134</ref> and so he assumed these powers by increasing his own authority, and by decreasing the authority of Rome's other political institutions. To increase his own powers, he assumed the important magistrates,<ref name="Abbott, 134">Abbott, 134</ref> and to weaken Rome's other political institutions, he instituted several additional reforms. He controlled the process by which candidates were nominated for magisterial elections, he appointed his own supporters to the senate, and he prevented hostile measures from being adopted by the assemblies.<ref name="Abbott, 134">Abbott, 134</ref>

After Caesar's assassination, [[Mark Antony]], who at the time had been Caesar's fellow consul, eventually formed an alliance with Caesar's adopted son and great-nephew, [[Augustus|Gaius Octavian]]. Along with [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)|Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]], who was Caesar's magister equitum (master of horse) at the time of his assassination, they formed an alliance known as the [[Second Triumvirate]]. They held powers that were nearly identical to the powers that Caesar had held under his constitution, and as such, the senate and assemblies remained powerless. The conspirators were defeated at the [[Battle of Philippi]] in 42 BC. Lepidus became powerless, and Antony went to Egypt to seek glory in the east, while Octavian remained in Rome. Eventually, however, Antony and Octavian fought against each other in one last battle. Antony was defeated in the naval [[Battle of Actium]] in 31 BC, and committed suicide in 30 BC. In 29 BC, Octavian returned to Rome, as the unchallenged master of the state. In 27 BC, Octavian offered to give up the Dictatorial powers which he had held since 42 BC, but the senate refused, and thus ratified his status as master of the state. He became the first [[Roman Emperor]], [[Augustus]], and the transition from [[Roman Republic]] to [[Roman Empire]] was complete.

==See also==