BQ78 said:

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Inspired some of the best lines in Shakespeare.

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et tu, Brute?

I'm not a Roman history/government person at all.

After Octavian took over (and going forward) what was the role of the senate? Did they still handle most of the governance but defer to the emperor? Were their positions mostly just for show?

Stive said:

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I'm not a Roman history/government person at all.

After Octavian took over (and going forward) what was the role of the senate? Did they still handle most of the governance but defer to the emperor? Were their positions mostly just for show?

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I believe Octavian gave all the control to the senate over the provinces and pulled his army out, but i believe it was basically in name only. He had sole control over the military and the authority to veto anything he didn't like without any checks or balances. For all intents and purposes, he was pretty much running the show immediately.

The craziest thing to me is that you can see the ripple effect of Octavian's rule throughout Europe (and then some) over the next 1400 years or so.

Stive said:

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I'm not a Roman history/government person at all.

After Octavian took over (and going forward) what was the role of the senate? Did they still handle most of the governance but defer to the emperor? Were their positions mostly just for show?

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Octavian became the head of the senate but reduced it by 200 that didn't agree with his rule. They pretty much yielded all power to him from there.

One of the interesting things about Octavian was that he came from a Plebeian family, but was adopted by Caesar and named his heir (Octavian's mother was Caesar's niece). He ended up "collecting" a variety of titles and powers held traditionally by one group or the other. At one point, he held the powers of a consul, a censor, and a tribune. So while he vested control to the Republic, he held all the power. Partly because he was insanely wealthy (he is credited with paying for the road system himself). Partly because he was a ferocious general with immense loyalty in the military.

Either way, he was pretty much in control of everything. Octavian's rule is considered the start of the Pax Romana that expanded the Roman empire to it highest reaches.

And who knows what the world looks like if Caesar wasn't murdered on March 15.

Was there last fall.



The site where he was killed has nothing marking it. Wouldn't even know it if it wasn't for our tour guide.



This was the temple built to honor Caesar

Pro Sandy said:

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Was there last fall.



The site where he was killed has nothing marking it. Wouldn't even know it if it wasn't for our tour guide.



This was the temple built to honor Caesar

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That's awesome. Rome is #1 on my list of places to see.

Fun fact, after the assassination, Octavian walled the curia off and desecrated the statue of Pompey that was there. Supposedly, they turned it into a public bathroom.

cavscout96 said:

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BQ78 said:

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Inspired some of the best lines in Shakespeare.

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et tu, Brute?

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he never said that

Suetonius wrote in The Life of Caesar that those at the scene reported Caesar said "You too, my child" in Greek when he saw Marcus Brutus. He also wrote that Servilla, Brutus' mother, was his favorite mistress. It is speculated that Brutus was actually Caesar's illegitimate child. So Shakespeare took that story and turned it into "Et tu, Brute" for the sake of clarity.

cavscout96 said:

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BQ78 said:

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Inspired some of the best lines in Shakespeare.

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et tu, Brute?

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In Greek !

MW03 said:

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Suetonius wrote in The Life of Caesar that those at the scene reported Caesar said "You too, my child" in Greek when he saw Marcus Brutus. He also wrote that Servilla, Brutus' mother, was his favorite mistress. It is speculated that Brutus was actually Caesar's illegitimate child. So Shakespeare took that story and turned it into "Et tu, Brute" for the sake of clarity.

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So, you're saying there weren't church bells ringing in Rome either?

Marcus Agrippa was the reason for Octavius success.

Greatest best friend in the history of the world.

kubiak03 said:

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Marcus Agrippa was the reason for Octavius success.

Greatest best friend in the history of the world.

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For his military success, yes. Maecenas deserved a lot of credit for his political success