Res Divi Augusti And The Life Of The Blessed Emperor Constantine?
What do the accounts of two Roman emperors reveal about the strategies leaders use to improve their institutions? In the first century BCE, Rome was struggling to govern effectively, take care of its citizens, and deal with bordering nations. Augustus came to power in 27 BCE and his reign oversaw the successful transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire (McKay 156). Just before his death in 14 CE, he wrote his autobiography, Res Gestae Divi Augusti, which details the impressive accomplishments of his long career. This text can be compared to an account of another Roman Emperor, Constantine, who served roughly 300 years later, from 306 to 312 CE. Roman historian Eusebius wrote a detailed biography of Constantine, called The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine, and this essay will focus on his description of a significant event in Constantine’s life, his conversion to Christianity. Although Emperors Augustus and Constantine both strived for similar goals of uniting Rome and bringing it to the forefront of the world, these two accounts, Res Gestae Divi Augusti and the Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine, show that each ruler’s
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From the beginning of their careers, both emphasized the importance of eliminating factions within Rome to create and maintain a united empire. Augustus himself stated that “In my nineteenth year, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army with which I set free the state, which was oppressed by the domination of faction” (Augustus). Putting an end to the disorder caused by these rebellious citizens, Augustus takes full control of the empire. Similarly, Constantine makes a point of unifying Rome. Eusebius writes “life was without enjoyment to him as long as he saw the imperial city thus afflicted, and prepared himself for the overthrowal of the tyranny”
From the beginning of their careers, both emphasized the importance of eliminating factions within Rome to create and maintain a united empire. Augustus himself stated that “In my nineteenth year, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army with which I set free the state, which was oppressed by the domination of faction” (Augustus). Putting an end to the disorder caused by these rebellious citizens, Augustus takes full control of the empire. Similarly, Constantine makes a point of unifying Rome. Eusebius writes “life was without enjoyment to him as long as he saw the imperial city thus afflicted, and prepared himself for the overthrowal of the tyranny”