Divus Augustus Pater: Tiberius and the charisma of Augustus

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2010-05-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
[Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University
Abstract
Max Weber, one of the founders of modern sociology, explains revolutionary transformation as a result of charismatic leadership. This charisma is defined as "a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which he is considered extraordinary and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities" (Economy and Society I.241). No one can deny that Augustus' "Roman revolution," to borrow a phrase from Syme, required such charisma. But while other republican leaders had possessed the same quality (e.g. Marius, Sulla, Julius Caesar), Augustus' revolutionary measures, unlike theirs, outlived the charismatic leader. In Weberian terms, this resulted from the routinization of charisma. This dissertation examines several key issues of the development of the principate. Why does a conservative republican like Tiberius accept responsibility for consolidating a virtually hereditary monarchy? And more importantly, how does an unpopular ruler like Tiberius secure the acceptance of Augustus' position in the state as an hereditary position? Is Tiberius consistent throughout his reign in following Augustus' facta dictaque vice legis (Tac. Ann. IV.37)? Finally, how does Tiberius routinize the charisma of Augustus into a system which would survive no matter how uncharismatic the emperor might be? Beginning with an inspection of the assumption of power by Tiberius (chapter one), this study continues (chapter two) with an analysis of the imperial cult as it developed into an institution under Tiberius Next we turn to an examination of Tiberian propaganda (chapter three). The ideology of Tiberius' reign consistently promoted the image and ideals of Augustus, while Tiberius himself remained in the background. At the same time, Tiberius established stability in a previously unstable system (chapter four) by confirming the charisma of Augustus in its depersonalized form. By failing to establish his own personal charisma, Tiberius transferred Augustus' charisma to the ruling family, and more importantly, to the position of the principate, thus allowing for the domination of the Julio-Claudian family and the peaceful succession of Caligula (chapter five).
Description
Thesis (PhD) - Indiana University, Classical Studies, 2003
Keywords
imperial cult, charisma, Augustus, Tiberius, Roman history, Julio-Claudian
Citation
DOI
Link(s) to data and video for this item
Relation
Rights
Type
Doctoral Dissertation