Augustus' military achievements

• Augustus and Agrippa would continue to be successful in their military pursuits.
• His successful military pursuits would help Augustus popularity and continue to give him legitimacy as sole ruler of Rome
• Military success would also lead to a period of expansion for the empire and the period known as the Pax Augusta
• After Actium, Augustus campaigned until 29 BCE.
• Although Antony and Cleopatra were dead the civil war continued for a few years, fighting in Dalmatia and Alexxandria.
• When he finally returned to Rome he celebrated a 'Triple Triumph'. This was also recorded in Augustan propaganda in a triumphal arch and also in coinage with the Denarius of Augustus, Capture of Egypt Denarius and Capture of Armenia aureus.
• His militaristic presentation declined during his reign as he sought to distance himself from his younger self, who won power through spilling the blood of other Romans.
• In the Res Gestae, Augustus tells us he would extend the frontiers of the empire from Hispania, Syria, Judea and the Rhine.
• Beyond the frontier he would establish Armenia as a client kingdom and maintain good relations with the powerful state of Parthia.
• He also closed the doors of the Temple of Janus indicating that the empire was at peace, ushering in the Pax Augusta.
• The Varus disaster (9CE, Germania) was the one blow on Augustus' military record.
• This was were a German called Arminius, who was a Roman ward, destroyed the legions at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.
• Augustus wanted to protect the province of Gaul from Germans from across the Rhine by extending the frontier as far as the Elbe river.
• He was initially successful with his stepsons Drusus who was killed, then Tiberius supressing the tribes.
• Varus was given command of Germania.
• Varus harsh treatment of the local population led to an attack in Teutoburg forest.
• 20,000 troops where wiped out and Varus committed suicide.
• After the Varus disaster Augustus would be much more defensive his policy and consolidate rather than expand the empire.