Velleius on Actium 88.1- 89.4

What does he imply about Augustus' role at Actium?

• Mentions the involvement of Agrippa, and so tells us that Augustus did not win the battle on his own
• Glorifies Augustus and paints him as a hero - "Caesar returned to Rome to universal acclaim and huge crowds from young and old"
• "Man's crazed lust for warfare was dead and buried"
• "There was nothing that Augustus did not restore to the Republic, the people of Rome and the world at large"
• "Force was restored to the laws, authority to the courts, majesty to the Senate"
• He writes favourably because he benefited from emperors in his life

In what ways is his writing similar/different to that of the poets?

• He mentions that on Augustus' return he was almost assassinated by Lepidus' son, who had ambitions to supplant Augustus
• It was stopped by Augustus' confidant Maecaenas, who quietly stopped the coup
• This shows that not everybody supported Augustus' claim to power and so the term "universal acclaim" is shown to be inaccurate

What does he fail to mention about Actium?

• The battle itself is largely glossed over in favour of the description of the benefits
• No mention of Mark Antony or Cleopatra (although this is covered earlier on in Velleius' account in detail)
• No acknowledgement of the fact that it was a civil war