Did Augustus Restore the Republic? Cassius Dio 53.16-17

Does the writer agree that Augustus restored the Republic?

• NO
• "in reality Caesar himself was destined to have absolute control of all matters for all time"
• "In this way the power of both people and senate passed entirely into the hands of Augustus, and from his time there was, strictly speaking, a monarch; for monarchy would be the truest name for it"
• "He continued to be sole ruler for life"
• "in order to preserve the appearance of having this power by virtue of the laws and not because of their own domination, the emperors have taken to themselves all the functions, including the titles, of the offices which under the Republic and by the free gift of the people were powerful"
• "These are the institutions which have taken over from the Republic"

What powers does this writer claim that Augustus had?

• Master of funds
• Consul (proconsul when outside of Rome)
• Commander of the soldiers
• "The name of imperator is held by them (emperors) all for life... in token of their independent authority"
• "By virtue of the titles named they secure the right to make levies, to collect funds, declare war, make peace, rule foreigners and citizens alike everywhere and always" - "Even to the extent of being able to put to death both knights and Senators"
• "All the other privileges once granted to the Consuls and other officials possessing independent authority"
• "by virtue of holding the censorship they investigate our lives and morals as well as take the census" - this involved being able to enrol and erase people from different classes (e.g equestrian, senatorial)
• "The tribunician power...gives them the right to nullify the effects of measures taken by any other official"

What powers does this writer claim Augustus refused?

• The role of dictator - Augustus took every power "with the single exception of the dictatorship"

What are the limitations of the source?

• Cassius Dio was born over a hundred years after Augustus, so although there was no pressure on him to write favourably, Dio's account is limited as the writer had no first hand experience of Augustus and his rule, meaning that the information he acquired throughout his lifetime may have been polluted