How serious were

the challenges to
Augustus’ rule?
Work through this powerpoint. Take notes,
answer all questions, and read all prescribed
sources. Remember to make plenty of notes
in your PS booklet.

If you’ve forgotten your source booklet, it is

on teams! (Go to our channel > files > class
resources)
 Starter - Quizmaster
Activity
1) Create 5 quiz questions based on
your learning from previous
lessons.
2) In pairs/on your tables, quiz each
other on your questions!
 Aims & Objectives

Assessment Objectives Lesson Objectives

• AO1: Knowledge and understanding of key

periods studied
• AO2: Analysis and evaluation of key
events to arrive at judgements
• Assessing the nature of challenges to Augustus’
• AO3: Use, analyse and evaluate ancient rule (AO2)
source material

This unit will explore how Octavian became the

figure Augustus, and how he established the
benchmark by which all other Emperors are judged
AO1
Challenges to his rule
• Pliny suggests numerous challenges to
Augustus’ rule!
• Natural History 7. 46
• ‘the many plots against his life’
• However, not many mentioned elsewhere
• Four key ones:
• Marcus Lepidus
• Caepio and Murena Conspiracy
• Egnatius Rufus
• Cinna’s ‘assassination’ plot
AO1
Marcus Lepidus Plot
(Velleius Paterculus History of Rome 2.88)
1. Research “Marcus Aemilius Lepidus” – how could he be a potential threat to
Augustus?
Read Velleius Paterculus 2.88, and answer the below questions
• What did Marcus Lepidus plan to do?
• To what extent did this plot threaten Augustus?
• Who quelled the plot?
• How was Lepidus punished?
• How significant do you think this threat was to Augustus? Why?
AO1
Plots: Caepio & Murena

• Date: 23 BC
• Dio discusses Licinius Murena
• Brother of both Terentia, who was wife of Maecenas (research Gaius Maecenas), and
Proculeius, who was a leading figure of the Augustan court.
• Terentia was rumoured to be Augustus’ lover.
• Murena defended Primus, which was an important trial. It would’ve been an
honour to be asked to provide defence!

• The consular list for 23 BC lists a consul who either did not serve, or was
removed… Keep this in mind when answering the questions on the next slide…!
AO1
Plots: Caepio & Murena
• Key evidence – Read the following sources:
• Macrobius Saturlina 1.11.21 (p.18)
• Paterculus 2.91.2 (brief)

• Suetonius, Tib.8: “He (Tiberius) prosecuted Fannius Caepio, who had been
engaged in a conspiracy with Varro Murena against Augustus, and procured
sentence of condemnation against him.”

1. What was the goal of the plot?

2. What happens to Caepio?
3. The sources are very brief about this plot – is it possible that Augustus made it
all up? Why do you think he would do this?
4. From what you have learned, how threatening was this plot?
AO1
Plots: Egnatius Rufus – Paterculus 2.91 (p.42)
• Read: Velleius Paterculus 2.91 (p.42 in your sourcebook)
• Summarise Egnatius Rufus’ plot.
1. Why was it potentially dangerous?
2. Who did Egnatius gain support from, and how?
3. How does the conclusion of this plot display the power of the
Augustus?
4. Overall, how significant was the threat of this plot?
AO1
Plots: Egnatius Rufus – Paterculus 2.91 (p.42)
• Challenged Augustus by making independent benefactions to the people
• Aedile in 22 BCE - used his own cash to set up a rudimentary city fire
brigade
• Augustus disapproved but decided to trump Egnatius by making 600 of his
own slaves available for firefighting
• A few years later, while Augustus was abroad, Egnatius attempted to stand
for the consulship without the emperor’s approval and at an illegally early
age
• This cannot have been an organised plot against the emperor: he was not in
Rome to be disposed of anyway, which might have been why Egnatius
thought he could get away with his stand.
AO1
Plots: Egnatius Rufus
• But…. his candidacy was refused, there were popular riots!
• He was executed, on the decision of the senate, presumably with the
absent emperor’s agreement.
• How many of his fellow senators sympathised with Egnatius Rufus is a
matter of guesswork. We know nothing of his background and can
only infer what his aims and motives were.
 AO3
Cinna – Prescribed Source
Task
Read Seneca On Clemency.1.9

1. What does Augustus decide to do with Cinna?

2. Why does he make this decision?
3. How important was Livia’s role?
4. What does Augustus gain from this whole affair?
5. How dangerous was the plot, overall?
AO1
Plots: Cinna
• Cinna became a supporter of Mark Antony.
• Promoted to a priesthood
• 16 BC: Cinna and Aemilia Lepida (granddaughter of triumvir Marcus
Aemilius Lepidus) were involved in a conspiracy
• Cinna and Lepida were the first and last people pardoned by the
emperor after having conspired against him
• Famously the last documented conspiracy against Augustus
• Cinna served as a consul in 5 AD and is said to have been a close
friend and adviser to Augustus until his death
Exam Activity
30 marker
• Who remembers what the AO’s are for 30 mark questions?

• AO3 = 15 marks: Use, analyse and evaluate ancient source material

• You need to learn your ancient sources
• Authors, coinage, inscriptions etc.
• You must also be critical of them; why do we need to be cautious of Horace
for example? Can coinage be useful?
• AO1 & AO2 = 15 marks:
• AO1: Knowledge and understanding of key periods studied
• AO2: Analysis and evaluation of key events to arrive at judgements
Exam Activity
30 marker
‘Augustus never faced a significant threat to his position’. Explain how
far you agree with this view with reference to the years c. 27 BC – AD
14. You must use and analyse the ancient sources, as well as your own
knowledge [30 marks]

1. What is the focus of this question

2. What judgement will you have to make?
3. What kinds of sources will you refer to?
Exam Activity
30 marker
• Q: How do you plan?
• Q: Do you create for/against columns? Or do you use a mind map?

• Go back through your notes/this powerpoint

• Individually or in pairs, decide who is going to work on the following:

• Agree points
• Disagree points
• Ancient sources to support agree/disagree points
• Create a detailed plan
 AO1
Directed Study - Individuals
Create fact-files on the Challenge
following sources:
- Velleius Paterculus
1) Copy a family tree
for Augustus.
- Suetonius
- Tacitus 2) Research the
- Seneca the Younger
individuals below in
the following order:
- Macrobius
1. Gaius Maecenas
- Pliny the Elder
2. Marcus Agrippa
- Ovid 3. Marcus Lepidus
- Horace (Senior)
- Dio Cassius 4. Mark Antony