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Augustus C
He knitted together the Roman world, east and west, into one great organisation of which the Emperor stood as the supreme head.
He set his legions upon the distant frontiers and their swords formed a wall of steel within which commerce and peace might flourish.
The security was not perpetual, yet it lasted for four centuries, and saved ancient civilisation from destruction.
But for the Empire and the system inaugurated by Augustus, there is every probability that the Roman civilisation would have been as thoroughly wiped out in Gaul and Spain, as it was in northern Africa, and as the civilisation of Greece was blotted out in Asia Minor and Syria.
We may regret the degeneration of Rome, its loss of freedom, the tyranny of the later Emperors, the civil wars which followed, and the decay of the old martial spirit in the Roman people. But the seeds of degeneration and decay had been planted in the days of the Republic, and would have come to maturity far sooner if there had been no Augustus and no Empire.
Augustus started the Roman world on a new career. He made it realise its unity for the first time. That was his life-work, and its consequences are felt to this day.
John B. Firth’s work is brilliant study of this remarkable man and the empire that he forged.
“attractive as well as scholarly … will certainly be helpful to all who are interested in Augustus and his age.” George Willis Botsford, The American Historical Review
John Benjamin Firth was a British historian of the ancient world. One of his most famous works was his translation of the letters of the younger Pliny. Augustus Cæsar And The Organization Of The Empire Of Rome was first published in 1902 and Firth passed away in 1943.
He set his legions upon the distant frontiers and their swords formed a wall of steel within which commerce and peace might flourish.
The security was not perpetual, yet it lasted for four centuries, and saved ancient civilisation from destruction.
But for the Empire and the system inaugurated by Augustus, there is every probability that the Roman civilisation would have been as thoroughly wiped out in Gaul and Spain, as it was in northern Africa, and as the civilisation of Greece was blotted out in Asia Minor and Syria.
We may regret the degeneration of Rome, its loss of freedom, the tyranny of the later Emperors, the civil wars which followed, and the decay of the old martial spirit in the Roman people. But the seeds of degeneration and decay had been planted in the days of the Republic, and would have come to maturity far sooner if there had been no Augustus and no Empire.
Augustus started the Roman world on a new career. He made it realise its unity for the first time. That was his life-work, and its consequences are felt to this day.
John B. Firth’s work is brilliant study of this remarkable man and the empire that he forged.
“attractive as well as scholarly … will certainly be helpful to all who are interested in Augustus and his age.” George Willis Botsford, The American Historical Review
John Benjamin Firth was a British historian of the ancient world. One of his most famous works was his translation of the letters of the younger Pliny. Augustus Cæsar And The Organization Of The Empire Of Rome was first published in 1902 and Firth passed away in 1943.
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First published January 1, 1903
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 7, 2020
Review from 5 years ago below. I'm embarking on a refresher about this massive figure of Roman antiquity
I re-read this to remember the amazing number of achievements this man implemented in the transition from Republican to Imperial Rome. Over 40 years, no less. A giant of a man, not perfect by any means, but someone who shaped history
Augustus Caesar by John B. Firth is a comprehensive summary of the life of the first Roman Emperor. This is perhaps one of the most interesting biographies I have read. The author chronologically proceeds from the tumultuous time of the assassination of Julius Caesar during the Ides of March in 44 BCE to the death of Augustus in 14 CE.
Following the death of the Dictator Julius Caesar the Roman Republic was thrown into a succession of civil wars. The author describes the complex interactions, environment and conflicts between the factions involved in the assassination of Caesar – a bunch of around 60 Senators lead by Cassius and Brutus, and the Second Triumvirate of Mark Antony, Augustus (he was known as Octavian at this time) and Lepidus who were avenging his death.
You could not write a better script than this real life epic. There is no way I can even start to summarise the contents of this wonderful story. But I’ll try!!
This story involves significant historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Cicero, Cato, Brutus, Cassius, Tiberius, Germanicus, Drusus – each with a fascinating story of their own, all involved in the shaping of the life of Augustus. The dynamics between members of the second triumvirate and its interplay with Caesar’s assassinators and the way the triumvirate consequently imploded on itself is a story on its own – all of this happening with the oligarchical, elite, fretting, self-absorbed Senate in the background.
Often forgotten, the reader will understand how key women such as Livia Drusilla – the third wife of Augustus, and Mother of the next Emperor Tiberius, pulled strings behind the scenes. Livia was instrumental in the elevation of the taciturn and dour Tiberius – this was particularly important as the relationship between he and his Stepfather, Augustus was capricious to say the least. Cleopatra was another significant woman, who had a massive impact on the way Mark Antony seemed to ‘take his eye off the ball’ resulting in Augustus prevailing – for example at the Battle of Actium, resulting in the lovers fleeing to Egypt to live a life of hedonism until Antony took his own life. It is one of the most remarkable love stories of all time.
Young Octavian (Augustus) managed to overcome players who were vastly more experienced than he, he prevailed and eventually became the first Man in Rome by incrementally changing laws and accepted practices. In fact, he did this so gradually I don’t think the Senate really know what was being done to them. Even though Augustus often tried to label the system as a joint venture, it was nothing of the sort. Sure, the Senate and other office bearers possessed some powers – but Augustus was at the centre of it, he was “Large and in-Charge”. The Emperor.
This great man had his flaws, such as the hypocrisy he showed when dealing with his daughter Julia’s rampant infidelity resulting in her banishment. Meanwhile he was quite prolific in this regard. He was also capable of extreme violence – as in the proscriptions in the early days whereby thousands of anti-Caesareans were listed, hunted, and murdered. It is said he was more zealous than others when it came to ensuring those on the list were eliminated. It must be kept in mind, these were brutal times and when you were moving in these circles, you had to be the last man standing or you fell by the wayside.
He was austere. You can even see his humble abode on the Palantine Hill to this very day, with remnants of the frescos still visible (how brilliant is that?). He slept in the same room for most of his life, it wasn’t grand, he didn’t over-indulge in food or wine either. But he loved company, his dinners were often active affairs involving lively discussion and with only a few courses. Certainly not the excessive debauchery seen at banquets of the likes of Caligula, Nero, Vitellius and others.
Surely one of Augustus’ greatest achievements was “Pax Romana” – a period of relative peace that existed over the Empire during his reign (27 BCE – 14 CE). That’s not to say there wasn’t conflict, for example, those pesky Germanic Tribes were always at it, and there were always various uprisings to flatten and border skirmishes to quell.
During this time the Empire grew significantly annexing Egypt, part of Spain, areas of Central Europe and the Middle East. Augustus was driven, organised and pragmatic – he established an excellent network of roads, which enabled goods and the military to move around more efficiently. He worked on making sure commerce thrived by creating an enormous trading network.
The main conclusion I can draw regarding the essence of this man is - Augustus was a man of order.
I just loved the way this author systematically, and chronologically proceeds through the life of this great historical figure. Maybe it’s because I am obsessed by antiquity, but I would wager 20 bucks (okay maybe 5) anybody could pick this book up, then spend time traversing its dense chapters and understand, appreciate and truly enjoy the journey of this man’s life.
I mean, what could be more epic than a story of a young man of around 19 years of age, overpowering established generals, out manoeuvring wily politicians, reshaping (totally) the Roman Republic into what was one the greatest Empires the world has ever seen?
I feel privileged to have read this book and very lucky to have gaped into the life and times of Augustus Caesar. I felt genuinely sad when his death was described in the book, the author painted such a vivid picture of this man, it was difficult not to become attached.
As Augustus once said "I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble", well what a guy.
John B. Firth has done a magnificent job here and I will certainly read some of his other historical works.
5 Stars
I re-read this to remember the amazing number of achievements this man implemented in the transition from Republican to Imperial Rome. Over 40 years, no less. A giant of a man, not perfect by any means, but someone who shaped history
Augustus Caesar by John B. Firth is a comprehensive summary of the life of the first Roman Emperor. This is perhaps one of the most interesting biographies I have read. The author chronologically proceeds from the tumultuous time of the assassination of Julius Caesar during the Ides of March in 44 BCE to the death of Augustus in 14 CE.
Following the death of the Dictator Julius Caesar the Roman Republic was thrown into a succession of civil wars. The author describes the complex interactions, environment and conflicts between the factions involved in the assassination of Caesar – a bunch of around 60 Senators lead by Cassius and Brutus, and the Second Triumvirate of Mark Antony, Augustus (he was known as Octavian at this time) and Lepidus who were avenging his death.
You could not write a better script than this real life epic. There is no way I can even start to summarise the contents of this wonderful story. But I’ll try!!
This story involves significant historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Cicero, Cato, Brutus, Cassius, Tiberius, Germanicus, Drusus – each with a fascinating story of their own, all involved in the shaping of the life of Augustus. The dynamics between members of the second triumvirate and its interplay with Caesar’s assassinators and the way the triumvirate consequently imploded on itself is a story on its own – all of this happening with the oligarchical, elite, fretting, self-absorbed Senate in the background.
Often forgotten, the reader will understand how key women such as Livia Drusilla – the third wife of Augustus, and Mother of the next Emperor Tiberius, pulled strings behind the scenes. Livia was instrumental in the elevation of the taciturn and dour Tiberius – this was particularly important as the relationship between he and his Stepfather, Augustus was capricious to say the least. Cleopatra was another significant woman, who had a massive impact on the way Mark Antony seemed to ‘take his eye off the ball’ resulting in Augustus prevailing – for example at the Battle of Actium, resulting in the lovers fleeing to Egypt to live a life of hedonism until Antony took his own life. It is one of the most remarkable love stories of all time.
Young Octavian (Augustus) managed to overcome players who were vastly more experienced than he, he prevailed and eventually became the first Man in Rome by incrementally changing laws and accepted practices. In fact, he did this so gradually I don’t think the Senate really know what was being done to them. Even though Augustus often tried to label the system as a joint venture, it was nothing of the sort. Sure, the Senate and other office bearers possessed some powers – but Augustus was at the centre of it, he was “Large and in-Charge”. The Emperor.
This great man had his flaws, such as the hypocrisy he showed when dealing with his daughter Julia’s rampant infidelity resulting in her banishment. Meanwhile he was quite prolific in this regard. He was also capable of extreme violence – as in the proscriptions in the early days whereby thousands of anti-Caesareans were listed, hunted, and murdered. It is said he was more zealous than others when it came to ensuring those on the list were eliminated. It must be kept in mind, these were brutal times and when you were moving in these circles, you had to be the last man standing or you fell by the wayside.
He was austere. You can even see his humble abode on the Palantine Hill to this very day, with remnants of the frescos still visible (how brilliant is that?). He slept in the same room for most of his life, it wasn’t grand, he didn’t over-indulge in food or wine either. But he loved company, his dinners were often active affairs involving lively discussion and with only a few courses. Certainly not the excessive debauchery seen at banquets of the likes of Caligula, Nero, Vitellius and others.
Surely one of Augustus’ greatest achievements was “Pax Romana” – a period of relative peace that existed over the Empire during his reign (27 BCE – 14 CE). That’s not to say there wasn’t conflict, for example, those pesky Germanic Tribes were always at it, and there were always various uprisings to flatten and border skirmishes to quell.
During this time the Empire grew significantly annexing Egypt, part of Spain, areas of Central Europe and the Middle East. Augustus was driven, organised and pragmatic – he established an excellent network of roads, which enabled goods and the military to move around more efficiently. He worked on making sure commerce thrived by creating an enormous trading network.
The main conclusion I can draw regarding the essence of this man is - Augustus was a man of order.
I just loved the way this author systematically, and chronologically proceeds through the life of this great historical figure. Maybe it’s because I am obsessed by antiquity, but I would wager 20 bucks (okay maybe 5) anybody could pick this book up, then spend time traversing its dense chapters and understand, appreciate and truly enjoy the journey of this man’s life.
I mean, what could be more epic than a story of a young man of around 19 years of age, overpowering established generals, out manoeuvring wily politicians, reshaping (totally) the Roman Republic into what was one the greatest Empires the world has ever seen?
I feel privileged to have read this book and very lucky to have gaped into the life and times of Augustus Caesar. I felt genuinely sad when his death was described in the book, the author painted such a vivid picture of this man, it was difficult not to become attached.
As Augustus once said "I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble", well what a guy.
John B. Firth has done a magnificent job here and I will certainly read some of his other historical works.
5 Stars
June 28, 2020
Augustus Caesar is a very solid biography of the founder of the Roman Empire. Born Gaius Octavius to a noble family, Gaius had the fortune to be named heir to his great-uncle Julius Caesar, the military dictator reforming the Roman Republic. When Julius was assassinated, Octavius maneuvered his way through the chaos, dispensing with rivals, accreting power, and eventually establishing himself as sole ruler of a new “republic” under his control. His stable rule over four decades established the new political order of the Roman domain – a well-managed empire under the control of a single strongman.
John Firth tells Octavius/Augustus’ story clearly and concisely, following Augustus’s rise, his military and political struggles, his policies as first citizen of the new Rome, and his attempts to procure lasting stability and an heir to his role. At the same time, he sheds light on the complexity of Augustus’ character, including his relationships with his closest advisers, his austerity, conservatism, and insistence on moral rigor in others, his ruthless cruelty tempered by clemency, and his reputation as a beneficent and generous ruler. The biography succeeds in clarifying a complex era as well as in bringing Augustus to life.
While this 1923 book shows its age in failing to show how it uses its sources and occasionally making judgments likely to raise the eyebrows of modern readers, it remains a readable, engaging, and direct history.
John Firth tells Octavius/Augustus’ story clearly and concisely, following Augustus’s rise, his military and political struggles, his policies as first citizen of the new Rome, and his attempts to procure lasting stability and an heir to his role. At the same time, he sheds light on the complexity of Augustus’ character, including his relationships with his closest advisers, his austerity, conservatism, and insistence on moral rigor in others, his ruthless cruelty tempered by clemency, and his reputation as a beneficent and generous ruler. The biography succeeds in clarifying a complex era as well as in bringing Augustus to life.
While this 1923 book shows its age in failing to show how it uses its sources and occasionally making judgments likely to raise the eyebrows of modern readers, it remains a readable, engaging, and direct history.
September 27, 2020
I finished this book eventually - moving to university got in the way slightly. Overall a strong summary of the early life of Octavian, his battle with Antony for supremacy and his completion of the Julian project through the establishment of the Principate.
January 1, 2022
Augustus understood
The book was written in the early 20th century and some bias shows. However, an excellent study of the man and his times. A good start to understand the beginning of the Roman Empire.
The book was written in the early 20th century and some bias shows. However, an excellent study of the man and his times. A good start to understand the beginning of the Roman Empire.
September 1, 2021
Tough sledding but powerful
This book is long and hard to get through but only because the author is relentless in his desire to thoroughly present all sides of a complicated man who ruled in a complicated time. Very informative and worth the effort.
This book is long and hard to get through but only because the author is relentless in his desire to thoroughly present all sides of a complicated man who ruled in a complicated time. Very informative and worth the effort.
February 6, 2026
Any read about ancient history will draw me in. This title provides many details about the life of Caesar Augustus, née Octavian or Octavius.
August 9, 2022
Kind of dry reading, but I love history and I loved this book.
I have read many books on Caesar as he has always intrigued me.
I have read many books on Caesar as he has always intrigued me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews