Augustus came to power following his defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium in 31BC. He was faced with the task of restoring peace, stability, order and tradition to a Rome that had experience three decades of civil war cause by bitter rivalry of competing members of Patrician class. Augustus realised that the republic could no longer cope with administering both Rome and the Empire it had gained. All efforts over the last 30 years had failed, so he sought to create a system of government with himself at the head, but he had to ensure power with relevance to republican precedent and tradition. “I would not accept any office inconsistent with the customs of our ancestors”#.Augustus could not make extreme changes to the ‘traditional Roman way’making sure to stay in accordance with Roman tradition, instead he first had to make his position more palatable to the existing ruling class and aristocracy. He must avoid the appearance of autocracy and conducting himself as Caesar had in order to avoid assassination. However he still had to ensure that he never lost supreme power himself, yet also provided opportunities for the senatorial class in order to avoid alienating them. He thus kept control of all armed forces and set about developing a system that would effectively administer Rome, however still maintaining his superiority. Augustus made the transition from Republic to Empire in a number of ways that did not cause uproar or result in anarchy for Rome and her Citizens.
Augustus had first been made a member of the senate under the consulship of Gaius Pasa in 43 BC, this was where were he first received his imperium. Augustus then became a consul in 32 BC when Rome was on the brink of a Civil war, yet he did not assume solitary power and still held the consulship annually, he was elected each year up until 23 BC. Augustus didn’t want to appear to be changing the behaviour of the republic and up heaving their customs. He also did not want to isolate...