Alex Petkus

When Augustus rises to power, and similarly with Julius Caesar, the so-called tyrannical monarchs from the perspective of Republicans like Cato, The way that they rise to power is through championing the interests of the people where the Senate is sort of failing to.

When Augustus rises to power, and similarly with Julius Caesar, the so-called tyrannical monarchs from the perspective of Republicans like Cato, The way that they rise to power is through championing the interests of the people where the Senate is sort of failing to.

So there is a much tighter link between the demos, between the populace and the emperor in the Roman consciousness than there is between the Senate and either of them. Like, if there's an element of discontent during the realm of the reign of Nero, it's really the Senate doesn't like Nero. And often with the so-called bad emperors like Domitian, it's the Senate that hates the guy.

So there is a much tighter link between the demos, between the populace and the emperor in the Roman consciousness than there is between the Senate and either of them. Like, if there's an element of discontent during the realm of the reign of Nero, it's really the Senate doesn't like Nero. And often with the so-called bad emperors like Domitian, it's the Senate that hates the guy.

And they're actually kind of popular with the people because Augustus is empowered with the tribunicia potesta, the power of the tribunes. That's part of his bundle of authorities that he makes himself just the first man in Rome, not the... Not the Monarch, the, you know, the print caps.

And they're actually kind of popular with the people because Augustus is empowered with the tribunicia potesta, the power of the tribunes. That's part of his bundle of authorities that he makes himself just the first man in Rome, not the... Not the Monarch, the, you know, the print caps.

with these powers of, essentially, you can call tribunary assemblies and get whatever laws he wants passed voted in. He has the power of veto. He's sacrosanct. These things that are really associated with the champions of the people. The emperor is the champion of the people par excellence throughout the Roman Empire.

with these powers of, essentially, you can call tribunary assemblies and get whatever laws he wants passed voted in. He has the power of veto. He's sacrosanct. These things that are really associated with the champions of the people. The emperor is the champion of the people par excellence throughout the Roman Empire.

Even if you feel oppressed by the tax collector or the local barons, the local... governors, some military officer. You have this, like, metaphysical hope that if you pray hard enough and if you have, like, a good stroke of luck, you can somehow find a way to the emperor's ear. And the emperor has the power to root out corruption. If only he could cast his benevolent gaze toward you.

Even if you feel oppressed by the tax collector or the local barons, the local... governors, some military officer. You have this, like, metaphysical hope that if you pray hard enough and if you have, like, a good stroke of luck, you can somehow find a way to the emperor's ear. And the emperor has the power to root out corruption. If only he could cast his benevolent gaze toward you.

I mean, this is why they have the imperial cult all throughout the empire. It's like... So, yeah, I think we are really confused about what the monarchy means for the Romans in the empire. But, um... The Senate is really the out group there.

I mean, this is why they have the imperial cult all throughout the empire. It's like... So, yeah, I think we are really confused about what the monarchy means for the Romans in the empire. But, um... The Senate is really the out group there.

Well, you know, until the last election, people were sort of wondering if the power of the people still mattered, right? Like if... if elections could still go either way. I think that we have this strong oligarchic element, and if a Roman observer spent enough time in the US, they wouldn't see the oligarchy as stopping at the door of the Capitol, at the Senate.

Well, you know, until the last election, people were sort of wondering if the power of the people still mattered, right? Like if... if elections could still go either way. I think that we have this strong oligarchic element, and if a Roman observer spent enough time in the US, they wouldn't see the oligarchy as stopping at the door of the Capitol, at the Senate.

It also extends to the media and the intelligentsia. One thing that we have that was not so prominent in Rome is they have a merchant class. They have a kind of business class, the equestrians, who are the guys doing government contracts, supplying soldiers, supplying ship gear for naval warfare, mining concessions and state-owned lands, all this stuff. They're making money kind of professionally.

It also extends to the media and the intelligentsia. One thing that we have that was not so prominent in Rome is they have a merchant class. They have a kind of business class, the equestrians, who are the guys doing government contracts, supplying soldiers, supplying ship gear for naval warfare, mining concessions and state-owned lands, all this stuff. They're making money kind of professionally.

But they were always seen as like second class citizens. The entrepreneurs aren't honored as such. I mean, as somebody who makes a lot of money, you can convert that accomplishment

But they were always seen as like second class citizens. The entrepreneurs aren't honored as such. I mean, as somebody who makes a lot of money, you can convert that accomplishment

into real honor and respect in the roman state by running for office or commanding an army or something but the highest honor is always reserved for people who do something more than just business like even crassus the richest man in rome he's not amassing a fortune just so he can be rich he's amassing a fortune so that he can be the puppet master and manipulate everything at rome and can control everything and get himself elected consul and leading armies and so

into real honor and respect in the roman state by running for office or commanding an army or something but the highest honor is always reserved for people who do something more than just business like even crassus the richest man in rome he's not amassing a fortune just so he can be rich he's amassing a fortune so that he can be the puppet master and manipulate everything at rome and can control everything and get himself elected consul and leading armies and so