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Soon the once ponderous 60 legions were reduced to 28, although they were supplemented by large
formations of auxiliaries. None of these legions were allowed in Italy, and for his own protection
Octavian created something new - the PRAETORIAN GUARD. Later a treasury department, the
aerarium militare, was created for better organization of military finances.
Octavian then turned to the Senate and in 28 B.C., armed with the title of PRINCEPS SENATUS and
with the help of Marcus Agrippa, conducted a census. Through this maneuver the Senate was reduced in
number to 800. Certain of his AUCTORITAS, or unquestioned position, Octavian prepared to return his
power to the Senate and to the people of Rome, thus gaining for all time their obedience.
The Senate received back its powers to control the state on January 13, 27 B.C. In return, Octavian was
granted for 10 years control of Spain, Gaul and Syria, centers of frontier defense, and controlled the
appointment of governors. These were thus imperial provinces, and the Senate controlled the rest. This
system was seemingly Republican, with the added safeguard that no governor of any province would dare
to go against Augustus' wishes.
On the 16th of January in 27 B.C., he received the title Augustus, signifying his semi-divine, or more
than human, nature. By 23 B.C., although no longer a consul, Augustus received the titles of IMPERIUM
MAIUS and TRIBUNICIA POTESTAS, which gave him control over the provinces, the Senate and the
state. His response was typical; Augustus concentrated on reviving Roman religion. He created great
temples to Mars and Apollo and ordered the temple of Capitoline Jupiter. In 12 B.C., he succeeded
Marcus Lepidus as pontifex maximus, the highest priesthood of Roman religion. The ARVAL
BRETHREN were revived, and the ranks of the Vestal Virgins were filled.
He built the Forum and the temples and supported any wealthy citizen who followed his lead. Most
notable were the ever-faithful Marcus Agrippa and Marcius Philippus. Organizationally the city was
divided into 14 wards under his direction. Police duties were performed by the Urban Cohorts, and order
was maintained over the often unruly mobs. Above the Urban Cohorts, however, and above the
population, the Senate and, eventually, the emperors themselves, stood the Praetorian Guards.
Administrative changes were made in finances and bureaucracy. The Equestrian Order and Freedmen
were brought into the government, and the civil system was born, a unit that maintained the Empire for the
next 500 years. The provinces contributed to the tax system, and laws were reformed or created, extending
from adultery, treason and bribery to marriage.
Augustus was concerned with the preservation of the frontiers, their certification and, where possible,
expansion. Spain and Gaul were strengthened and urbanized. Egypt's borders were organized, and in 20
B.C. a formal peace was signed with Parthia in the East. The treaty affirmed Roman dominion over
Armenia and pointed to one of Augustus' focal points of policy: the utilization of existing client countries
in the East - Armenia, Commagene, Cappadocia, Galatia and even Syria - as buffers toward Parthian
expansion. Augustus did not realize all of his ambitions. Germany was occupied, and steps taken toward
colonization and pacification, but in 9 A.D., the general Varus was annihilated by Arminius and the
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