Augustus - The Biography

Augustus: The Biography (2016) – Jochen Bleicken
Penguin | ISBN: 9780140294828
Condition: As New | Sold by Crappy Old Books

Augustus. Rome’s first emperor, master politician, ruthless survivor and arguably the most successful practitioner of the ancient art of acquiring absolute power while insisting that nothing of the sort has happened. In a world where ambitious Roman politicians frequently ended their careers with a dagger between the ribs, Augustus managed to die peacefully in bed, surrounded by an empire that he had effectively turned into his personal property. An impressive achievement, particularly considering what happened to his adoptive father.

In Augustus: The Biography, distinguished German historian Jochen Bleicken examines the extraordinary life of the man born Gaius Octavius, who rose from relative obscurity to become the undisputed ruler of Rome, transforming a battered republic into an imperial system that would endure for centuries.

The story begins amid the spectacular political chaos of the late Roman Republic, when elections, constitutional principles and republican virtues were frequently discussed by men who maintained private armies and regarded assassination as an acceptable method of resolving parliamentary disagreements.

When Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC, his young adopted heir inherited not merely a famous name and a considerable political opportunity, but an exceptionally dangerous collection of enemies. The sensible response might have been to retire to the countryside and take up gardening. Octavian, however, had rather more ambitious plans.

Through political manoeuvring, military campaigns, shifting alliances and an impressive willingness to eliminate opposition, he gradually defeated his rivals, including Mark Antony and Cleopatra, before emerging as the dominant figure in the Roman world.

But conquering Rome was only half the challenge. The truly remarkable achievement was persuading Romans, who supposedly despised monarchy, to accept a system in which one individual controlled virtually everything while maintaining the comforting appearance that the republic still existed.

Augustus proved exceptionally talented at this particular form of political theatre.

Bleicken’s substantial biography explores the complex personality behind the carefully cultivated public image, examining Augustus as politician, military leader, administrator and architect of a new constitutional order. Rather than presenting him simply as a heroic founder or calculating tyrant, the book investigates the political circumstances, institutions and personal decisions that shaped his extraordinary career.

Under Augustus, Rome experienced administrative reform, territorial expansion, ambitious building programmes and a period of relative stability following decades of civil conflict. The emperor famously claimed to have found Rome built of brick and left it clothed in marble, although the residents presumably remained responsible for the cleaning.

This 2016 Penguin edition, offered in As New condition by Crappy Old Books, is an excellent acquisition for students of ancient history, enthusiasts of Roman politics and readers fascinated by the extraordinary individuals who shaped the classical world.

A scholarly and absorbing account of ambition, violence, political genius and the remarkable construction of imperial authority.

Because while Julius Caesar acquired the reputation of wanting to become king and ended up murdered by his colleagues, Augustus effectively became one without admitting it.

Proof that in politics, as in business, presentation can be almost as important as the product.

Especially when the product is absolute power.

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