The Roman Revolution

The Roman Revolution

In January 27 BC, the Saviour of Rome humbly accepted absolute power over the richest provinces of the greatest empire the world had seen. After five civil wars in the course of a single generation, Rome was perishing from its own greatness. From this chaos Octavian, great-nephew of Julius Caesar, last of the dynasts and now Augustus Caesar, emerged victorious to restore the ailing Roman Republic. Freedom had vanished, though few would notice the difference, and the world would now effectively be ruled by a single family.

The return of monarchy to Rome after more than five hundred years was not inevitable. Nor was the identity of its agent. In his acclaimed study of Octavian’s route to power, Ronald Syme reveals how a combination of clear-sighted ambition, utter ruthlessness and outrageous good fortune saw him beat off competition from Rome’s great families, culminating in his famous victory over Mark Antony at Actium in 31 bc. A product of the viper pit of Roman politics, Octavian was now its master, and the Roman Principate was his pursuit of Republicanism by different means.

Augustus Ceasar was the first truly modern politician, blessed with an unprecedented ability to balance and manipulate the interests of Rome’s shifting coalitions, underpinned by a keen understanding of the value of propaganda. Syme charts the period leading up to his accession, detailing its violence and political chicanery with iconoclastic verve and grim prescience.

The Roman Revolution was published in June 1939, against a backdrop of newly risen totalitarian dictatorships in Germany, Italy and Spain. In the rise of Augustus, Syme saw Europe’s destiny foreshadowed, adding even further resonance to his masterpiece, which remains one of the greatest studies of Roman history in the English language.