Abstract
The political traditions of Rome were hostile to monarchy, or to the domination of the state by one man, whatever title he bore. The last of the line of kings of early Rome was driven into exile, and the first and only perpetual dictator, Julius Caesar, was assassinated, both in the name of liberty.The constitution of the early Principate was created by Augustus and basically retained the shape he gave it; his actions and motives receive special attention here. The Augustan constitution was a disguised monarchy. Augustus, with themalum exemplumof his adoptive father Caesar before him, shaped a constitution that looked like that of the old Republic, and apparently let it be known to Romans that they were witnessing the return of the old Republic. Velleius Paterculus, propagandist and spokesman for the Augustan regime and its successor, said of the events of 28-27 B.C.: ‘the pristine form of the republic was recalled as of old’ (2.89). Augustus’ own claim in theRes Gestaeis less extravagant but conveys the same message: ‘I transferred the republic from my power to the dominion of the senate and the people of Rome’ (34.1).
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