A generation that did not know better
How autocracy survives
Much has been written and debated about the assassination of the great Roman General Julius Caesar. While many appreciate Caesar’s clemency and welfare activities and condemn the murder, others consider him a populist autocrat and justify the act of stabbing an unarmed man 23 times in the name of Republic.
But a question much less asked is why his adopted heir, Octavian, later known as Augustus, did not meet the same fate. How was he able to achieve what the best General in history could not — the transition of Roman Republic into an Empire for good.
Octavian was only 19 when Caesar was murdered in 44 BCE, and he was declared heir to Caesar’s popular and powerful legacy. In the aftermath of the assassination, Roman Republic was in chaos and the citizenry was weary of the civil wars that have started since Sula’s bloody march on Rome in 83 BCE. Unlike every other popular leader in Roman History, Octavian was not a great general. He was barely a soldier and relied greatly on his friend Agrippa for military strategy and execution.
What he possessed was an exceptional political acumen. He mobilized the mass rage against the assassination and soon got elected as a Consul himself. Later he struck deals with both his father’s friends and foes to assume the role of Dictator of Rome. And whenever there was a threat to his inheritance, he used propaganda. Mark Anthony was married to Octavian sister Octavia as a political alliance. But his legendary romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra became a tool for Octavian to seed the fear of foreign domination in Roman minds, turning them against the very popular Anthony. In fact, it is said that much of the legendary status Cleopatra enjoys in our historical references is more owed to Octavian than her own charm. She wasn’t particularly beautiful by the contemporary western standards. Nor was she an able administrator or a shrewd politician. But as his forefathers did in the case of Hannibal, Octavian glorified this villain to glorify his own victory against her.
The need for peace and stability was the reason the Senate partnered with Octavian and bestowed the title of Imperato, the first citizen, on him. An agreement was made to run the Republic, now known as Empire, under the tutelage of the Imperato or Emperor. Octavian was also careful of not calling himself the King thus avoiding reopening of the historical wounds inflicted by the last King Lucius Tarquinius. He was an astute politician and made sure the Senators feel powerful enough not to rebel and conspire his assassination.
But what after his demise? Octavian’s bloodline brought the cruel Caligula and narcissist Nero to power in the later years. These Emperors had to be assassinated due to their excesses, but the assassins would designate another royal family member as the Emperor instead of handing over the power back to Senate and restoring the Republic. Why?
The answer I found was simple but an insidious one. Despite his flailing health, Octavian died at the age of 76. In an era of shorter life spans, he outlived the last generation of the Republic. The newer generation who grew up under his realm did not witness civil wars and bloodshed, but they also did not witness democracy. They did not know there can be a world where the top job holder was not a deified Emperor but a Consul, with a limited term of 1 year. A world created with a solid system of checks and balances by distributing power between Senate, Judiciary and the Assembly. Where the Consul’s decisions could be vetoed by the popularly elected Tribune. Where filibusters could be used to block legislations. Where rebellion by people was the order of the day and protests were a way to force improvements into the administrative processes.
In an era of shorter life spans, he outlived the last generation of the Republic
The new generation only knew a world where one disconnected man was instated on the throne as the divine Emperor. His decrees would be upheld as sacrosanct giving him sweeping power over the lives of the Roman citizens. This power was used by Augustus to require citizens to marry (Lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus 18 BC) and have babies (Lex Papia Poppaea AD 9). This power was used by Nero to distract masses from their destitution to violently vulgar gladiatorial shows. It was used by Constantine to force Romans to abandon their own vibrant, accepting, polytheistic religion in favor of a restrictive, puritan Christianity. This power was used by Honorius to deny German soldiers, their rightful place in the Roman society. And it was this last use or misuse rather, that culminated in the Fall of Rome by the hands of Alaric the Goth.
The Roman Civilization never returned to being a Republic and died as an Empire because Octavian lived long enough to eradicate the memories of the power of the people. The world, with a designated autocrat, playing with their lives was acceptable because that is how the civilization was expected to carry on.
The newer generation never revolted because they did not know any better.
As Tony Fadell said in his latest book, “It is easy to solve problems that everyone sees, but hard to solve the ones almost no one does.” This principle of hardware design applies to nations as well. In case of Rome, democracy died because autocracy became a habit.
