Augustus's Path To Power

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1. To see how Augustus’ achievement of power was a continuation of past paths to power we need to see his own path and also note the differences he took in that path. Augustus was born into a wealthy family whose family was well linked due to his mother being the niece of Julius Caesar [1]. Augustus did not follow the cursus honorum, due to the restrictions of age as he was only 18, and his early military career was spent preparing for the Partian war and in training at Apollonia in Illyricum [2]. As such he was only in the military system for less than 2 years when Julius Caesar was murdered. Augustus, on hearing the news of Caesars death travelled back to Rome, and on landing at Brundisium heard the news that in Caesars will he was adopted…show more content…
His actions that led up to the exemption from legal restrictions on gaining both his consulships will be discussed. Scipio first gained military experience at the battle of Pydna in 168 BC and gained a reputation for being a ‘young hound of noble breed’ in combat [1]. Scipio got married to Sempronia and also became friends with Polybius who tutored him to speak and act in a way worthy of his ancestors [2]. In 151 BC Scipio was assigned to Macedonica but chose to volunteer for service with Lucullus in Spain [3]. It was whilst fighting in Spain that he gained further notice by winning a mural crown by defeating a Spanish horseman in single combat and by arranging the surrender of Intercatia [4]. In 150 BC Scipio was a Legate to Masinissa to procure elephants and witnessed a battle between Masinissa and Hasdrubal and was called upon to mediate in a conference between them which ended without an agreement [5]. In 149 BC Scipio was serving in Africa where he distinguished himself and earned a corona obsidionalis in relieving a beleaguered army [6]. He was now popular in the army and his actions acclaimed in the senate by Cato as being alive and with valour [7]. Scipio was now old enough to stand for the Aedileship in 148 BC. The soldiers had also been busy writing letters home telling of the blunders of the present campaign and the exploits of Scipio, and that it is their desire that he be sent back to Carthage as consul. A tribune declared that it is the will of the people and a veto would be used if Scipio was not consul so as a precedent had been set back in the battle of Pylus, a law was repelled for a year and senate declared that ‘Let the laws sleep today’. Scipio was allowed also to conscript and enlist as many volunteers from the allies as he needed [8]. During the election it should also be noted that censors were also elected and the laws were still asleep as L
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