The Age of Augustus

This concise biography tells the extraordinary story of Augustus, Rome’s first monarch. It traces the history of the Roman revolution and Rome’s transformation from a republic to an empire. Werner Eck provides a vivid narrative of Augustus’ rise to power. From the war against the assassins of Julius Caesar to his struggle against Antony and Cleopatra, this book describes the key aspects of Augustus’ reign and the expansion of his empire. This updated edition includes a stemma of Augustus’ family, new information on the monuments of the Augustan period, a new chapter on legislation, a section on the Augustan wars against the German tribes, and additional maps and illustrations. Organized chronologically and according to specific topics, The Age of Augustus is an ideal resource for anyone approaching the subject for the first time.

Acknowledgments. List of Illustrations. List of Maps. 1. Augustus’ Career in Overview: The Res Gestae. 2. Modest Origins, Powerful Relatives. 3. Seizing Power and Legalizing Usurpation. 4. The Triumvirate: Dictatorship Sanctioned by Law. 5. The Path to Formal Legitimation as a Ruler. 6. The Final Battles for Power: Actium and Alexandria. 7. A New Political Order: The Principate Takes Shape. 8. The Principate Develops Further. 9. The Princeps and the Roman Elite. 10. The Practical Implementation of Political Power: Governing the Empire. 11. Shaping the Lives of Men. 12. A Standing Army. 13. War and Peace: Expanding the Empire. 14. Rome, the Augustan City. 15. The Quest for Political Continuity: The Succession. 16. Augustus’ Death and the Future of the Empire. Time Line. Appendix: The Res Gestae of Augustus. The Res Gestae of Augustus by Sarolta A. Takács. Select Bibliography. Index

Werner Eck is Professor of Ancient History at Cologne University. He is one of the foremost Roman imperial historians in the world and his publications include Die Verwaltung des römischen Reiches in der Hohen Kaiserzeit (1995, 1998), Das senatus consultum de Cn. Pisone patre (with A. Caballos and F. Fernández, 1996), Tra epigrafia, prosopografia e archeologia: Scritti scelti, rielaborati ed aggiornati (1996) and Das römische Köln. Geschichte einer Stadt im Rahmen des Imperium Romanum (2004). He is co–editor of the Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik .

"Eck has produced a second edition of The Age of Augustus good news, especially as this is not just the same lucid book of 2003 with additional bibliography, but has a new chapter, a section on the German wars, and new illustrative material, growing by more than forty pages." ( Greece & Rome , 2008) Praise for the first edition: “[Eck’s] narrative (in this fine translation) is readable, rarely obscure and fluently glosses difficult terms and concepts in a way that obviates the need for a glossary. Moreover, he skillfully handles difficult constitutional matters … without confusing the beginner, points out controversial issues, and marks his divergences with current scholarly opinion.” (Bryn Mawr Classical Review) “The book provides a narrative of Augustus’ achievements and expenditures on behalf of the Roman res publica … Eck is of course a recognized authority. He is the pre–eminent Roman administrative historian, prosopographer, and epigraphist of our time.” (The Classical Journal)