East European Studies

After the fall of the Second Triumvirate with the defeat of Antony in the Battle of Actium, Augustus became the unofficial princeps of the Roman Empire exercising de facto dictatorial powers within the ambit of the constitution of the Republic. Being supreme in the whole of the empire, Augustus instituted various reforms in the military and political fronts. Through these reforms, Augustus implicitly hoped to secure his continued rule over Rome, to glorify Rome as a capital city and to establish a long-lasting peace and stability in the empire, an intention he oftentimes invoke in private and in public. History would show that Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, was able to achieve both.
   
Augustus power emanates from the fact that he controlled a vast army and therefore his rule was determined by his relationship with the military. To this end, he pursued to professionalize the army by limiting the number of soldiers, opened up career promotions within the organization, and granted veterans pensions in terms of money or property. Through these measures, Augustus was able to create a vastly professional and greatly loyal military force. Aside from that, he implemented a policy of recruiting non-citizens from the provinces into the auxilliary units and enjoined local authorities to establish their own armies. Clearly these policies were aimed to show concern for the provinces as well as to convey political confidence. In addition, he also wished to protect the frontiers. After all these were implemented, the Roman Empire entered into a period of peace and security called the Pax Romana - a very tangible proof of Augustus success with respect to his intent to establish peace and stability within the empire. 
   
In the political field, reforms instituted by Augustus can be primarily interpreted as his way of perpetuating his continued administration of the empire. He reduced the number of Senators from 1000 to 800 and eventually to a mere 600 but, on the other hand, he acknowledged the Senates sovereignty in law and tradition. In this way, Augustus was able to maintain the facade that the Republic is still in effect and at the same time remain in control of the Senate. He likewise implemented various reforms in the civil and fiscal administration of the Roman empire. All these combined provided Rome with a stable political environment, a working bureaucratic system, and replenished public coffers.
   
In conclusion, one can easily see the personal drive of Augustus to secure himself politically and militarily. The many and far-reaching reforms he instituted were primarily directed for the continuance of his rule as the sole princeps of the Roman empire. However, in Augustus favor, he was guided in his reforms by the constitution of the Republic. In addition, the military and political reforms he implemented was able to give Rome and the rest of the empire a period or relative peace, stability and plenty. Having these in mind, it can be confidently stated that the great Caesar Augustus was able to achieve all that he wished to achieve with his political and military reforms.