Lindsay Powell

But what he cuts is a deal which effectively gives him control of the provinces on the outer edges of the empire, ones which, I think in Cassius Dio's words, are not pacified but need to be. And then the Senate has its traditional provinces in the center. But cunningly, in the interim, there's a passage, I think, in Cassius Dio where before he sets off from Italy to go to Actium,

He has a meeting where he seems to think, where does the army need to be? And it's almost he's playing a mental game of chess. I mean, this is my supposition to some degree. But this is, I think, the way that Augustus works, is that he's positioning the legions in different places where he will need them.

He has a meeting where he seems to think, where does the army need to be? And it's almost he's playing a mental game of chess. I mean, this is my supposition to some degree. But this is, I think, the way that Augustus works, is that he's positioning the legions in different places where he will need them.

He has a meeting where he seems to think, where does the army need to be? And it's almost he's playing a mental game of chess. I mean, this is my supposition to some degree. But this is, I think, the way that Augustus works, is that he's positioning the legions in different places where he will need them.

And ultimately, in 27 BC, the accord is struck where he is able to have a province, which has Illyricum and the Gaul, for example, and other places, where most of the legions are. The Senate basically has one legion, which I think is in Africa. And Egypt is his personal province. The Senate doesn't have anything to do with that. So he has, I think, two legions there.

And ultimately, in 27 BC, the accord is struck where he is able to have a province, which has Illyricum and the Gaul, for example, and other places, where most of the legions are. The Senate basically has one legion, which I think is in Africa. And Egypt is his personal province. The Senate doesn't have anything to do with that. So he has, I think, two legions there.

And ultimately, in 27 BC, the accord is struck where he is able to have a province, which has Illyricum and the Gaul, for example, and other places, where most of the legions are. The Senate basically has one legion, which I think is in Africa. And Egypt is his personal province. The Senate doesn't have anything to do with that. So he has, I think, two legions there.

And there are fleets, of course, around the place. And what's intriguing about all of this, of course, is that his position is quite precarious. There is no magistrate called emperor. It doesn't exist and will not exist for quite a long while. What he is, effectively, is the winner in a long civil war. where he's outsmarted his opponents.

And there are fleets, of course, around the place. And what's intriguing about all of this, of course, is that his position is quite precarious. There is no magistrate called emperor. It doesn't exist and will not exist for quite a long while. What he is, effectively, is the winner in a long civil war. where he's outsmarted his opponents.

And there are fleets, of course, around the place. And what's intriguing about all of this, of course, is that his position is quite precarious. There is no magistrate called emperor. It doesn't exist and will not exist for quite a long while. What he is, effectively, is the winner in a long civil war. where he's outsmarted his opponents.

And everybody is basically in fear of what's he going to do next, because he could rule as an autocrat. And he decides that's not the smart thing because his great uncle, Julius Caesar, got assassinated for that very reason. And what he smartly does, he plays this sort of political game opting to divide his spoils with the Senate. And he keeps the bit with the army.

And everybody is basically in fear of what's he going to do next, because he could rule as an autocrat. And he decides that's not the smart thing because his great uncle, Julius Caesar, got assassinated for that very reason. And what he smartly does, he plays this sort of political game opting to divide his spoils with the Senate. And he keeps the bit with the army.

And everybody is basically in fear of what's he going to do next, because he could rule as an autocrat. And he decides that's not the smart thing because his great uncle, Julius Caesar, got assassinated for that very reason. And what he smartly does, he plays this sort of political game opting to divide his spoils with the Senate. And he keeps the bit with the army.

And that's what he does all the way through his reign. And that's what his successors will do for a certain point. But then he manipulates the powers that he has. So gradually over time, he will start accumulating the political powers. So it doesn't matter that he only has part of the empire. He effectively rules it all.

And that's what he does all the way through his reign. And that's what his successors will do for a certain point. But then he manipulates the powers that he has. So gradually over time, he will start accumulating the political powers. So it doesn't matter that he only has part of the empire. He effectively rules it all.

And that's what he does all the way through his reign. And that's what his successors will do for a certain point. But then he manipulates the powers that he has. So gradually over time, he will start accumulating the political powers. So it doesn't matter that he only has part of the empire. He effectively rules it all.

And what's happening with the army is that he professionalizes the army so that the legions, which I think people tend to forget this, even as the civil war was happening, the commanders were still active on the frontiers. And in my book, Augustus at War, when I was researching that, I was quite surprised that there were actions still on the German frontier and still in Pannonia.

And what's happening with the army is that he professionalizes the army so that the legions, which I think people tend to forget this, even as the civil war was happening, the commanders were still active on the frontiers. And in my book, Augustus at War, when I was researching that, I was quite surprised that there were actions still on the German frontier and still in Pannonia.

And what's happening with the army is that he professionalizes the army so that the legions, which I think people tend to forget this, even as the civil war was happening, the commanders were still active on the frontiers. And in my book, Augustus at War, when I was researching that, I was quite surprised that there were actions still on the German frontier and still in Pannonia.

Because as far as the enemies of Rome, they're not sitting back. They're actually using this as an opportunity to try and nip at the frontiers. So Octavian has to still negotiate what's happening here.