Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 1.djvu/445

AUGUSTUS. Lis soldiers with garlands and money, and promised still further rewards; but the veterans insisted upon their dismission, and upon receiving (at once) the lands and all the sums that had been promised them. Augustus quelled the rebellion in its com- mencement by severity combined with liberality : he dismissed the veterans who had fought at Mu- tina and Philippi, and ordered them to quit Sicily immediately, that their disposition might not spread further among the soldiers. The latter were satis- fied with the promises of Augustus, which he ful- filled at the expense of Sicily, and lands were as- signed to the veterans in Campania. Augustus now sent back the ships of Antony, and took pos- session of Africa. The Roman senate hastened to honour the conqueror in the most extravagant manner ; and when he approached the city, which Maecenas had governed during his absence, the senate and people flocked out to meet him. Au- gustus addressed the senate in a very modest man- ner, and declined some of the distinctions which were offered him. He celebrated his ovation on the 1 3th of November, B. c. 36. The abundant supply of provisions which was now brought to Rome satisfied the wants and wishes of the people; and as this h.ippy state of things was the result of his victory, his interests coincided with those of the people, whose burdens were also lessened in various ways. By the conquest of two of his rivals, Augustus liad now acquired strength enough to enter upon the contest with the third. He first endeavoured, however, as much as was in his power, to remedy the confusion and demoralisation in which Italy had been involved in consequence of the civil wars, and he pretended only to wait for the arrival of his colleague in order to withdraw with him into pri- vate life, as the peace of the republic was now re- stored. This pretended self-denial did not remain unrewarded, for the people elected him pontifex maximus, though Lepidus, who held this office, was yet alive ; and the senate decreed, that he should inhabit a public building, that his person should be inviolable, and that he should sit by the side of the tribunes. Augustus took every oppor- tunity of praising and supporting his absent col- league, Antony, and by this stratagem the Romans gradually became convinced, that if new disputes should break out between them, the fault could not possibly lie with Augustus. But matters did not yet come to this : the most urgent thing was to keep his troops engaged, and to acquire funds for pfiying them. After suppressing a mutiny among the in- solent veterans, he prepared for a campaign against some tribes on the north-eastern coast of the Adri- atic, of which the Romans had never become com- plete masters, and which from time to time refused to pay their tribute. Augustus marched along the coast, without meeting with much resistance, until he came near the country of the Japydes : their capital Metulum was strongly fortified and garri- soned ; but the perseverance of Augustus and the courage of his troops compelled the garrison to sur- render, and the place was changed into a heap of ashes 1)y the brave Japydes themselves (b. c. 3.5). As the season of the year was not yet much advanced, Augustus undertook a campaign against the Pan- nonians in Segestica. After several engagements during their march through the country, the Ro- mans appeared before the town of Segesta, which, after a siege of thirty days, sued for pardon. Au- AUGUSTUS. 427 gustus, to suit his own purpose, imposed only a fine upon the inhabitants, and leaving his legate Fufiua Geminus behind with a garrison of twenty-five cohorts, he returned to Rome. Octavia had in the meantime been repudiated by Antony ; and at the request of Augustus the senate declared Octavia and Livia inviolable, and granted them the right of conducting their own affairs without any male assistance — an apparent reparation for the insult offered to Octavia by her husband, but in reality a means of keeping the recollection of it alive. Au- gustus intended next to make an expedition against Britain, but the news of fresh revolts in the coun- tries from which he had just returned, altered his plan. His generals soon restored peace, but he himself went to Dalmatia, where Agrippa had the command. Several towns were taken, and neither life nor property was spared. Augustus penetrated as far as Setovia, where he was wounded in hia knee. After his recovery, he gave the command to Statilius Taurus, and returned to Rome to un- dertake the consulship for the year B. c. 33, which 1/e entered upon on the 1st of January together with L. Volcatius Tullus, and laid down on the same day, under the pretext of the Dalmatian war, though his presence there was no longer necessary, since Statilius Taurus had already completed the defeat of the Dalmatians. Out of the spoils made in this war Augustus erected a portico called, after his sister, Octavia. During this year, Agrippa was aedile, and did all he could to gain popularity for his friend Augustus and himself, and Augustus also made several very useful regulations. Meantime the arbitrary and arrogant proceedings of Antony in the East were sufficient of themselves to point hira out to the Romans as an enemy of the republic, but Augustus did not neglect to direct attention secretly to his follies. Letters now passed between the two triumvirs full of mutual crimina- tions ; and Antony already purchased from Arta- vasdes cavalry for the impending war against his colleague. The rupture between the two triumvirs was mainly brought about by the jealousy and am- bition of Cleopatra. During the year B. c. 32, while Cleopatra kept Antony in a perpetual state of intoxication, Augustus had time to convince the Romans that the heavy sacrifices he demanded of them were t» be made on their own behalf only, as Italy had to fear everything from Antony War was now declared against Cleopatra, for Antony was looked upon only as her infatuated slave. In B. c. 31, Augustus was consul for the third time with M. Valerius Messalla. Rome was in a state of great excitement and alarm, and all classes had to make extraordinary exertions. An attempt of Augustus to attack his enemy during the winter was frustrated by stonns ; but, in the spring, his fleet, under the command of the able Agrippa, spread over the whole of the eastern part of the Adriatic, and Augustus himself with his legions landed in Epeinis. Antony and Cleopatra took their station near the promontory of Actium in Acarnania. Their fleet iiad no able rowers, and everything depended upon the courage of the sol- diers and the size of their ships. Some persons ventured to doubt xhe safety of entering upon a sea-fight, but Cleopatra's opinion prevailed, and the battle of Actium was fought in September, 31. As soon as the queen observed that victory was not certain on her side, she took to flight, and An- tony soon followed her. His fleet fought in vain