Politics and Society in the Early Roman Empire

Since Augustus claimed his system was not a monarchy, his successor could inherit his power only with the Senate’s approval. Augustus therefore decided to identify an heir for the Senate to recognize as princeps after his death. This strategy succeeded and kept rule in his family, called the Julio-Claudians, until the death in 68 C.E. of Nero, Augustus’s last descendent. It established the tradition that family dynasties ruled the principate.

The Julio-Claudian emperors worked to prevent unrest, maintain loyalty, finance the administration and army, and govern the provinces. Augustus set the pattern for effective imperial rule: take special care of the army, communicate the emperor’s image as a just ruler and generous patron, and promote Roman law and culture as universal standards. The citizens, in return for their loyalty, expected the emperors to be generous patrons—but the difficulties of long-range communication imposed practical limits on imperial support of or intervention in the lives of the residents of the provinces.