Augustus, First Roman Emperor: Power, Propaganda and the Politics of Survival

So mighty was the name of Augustus, first Roman emperor and adopted son and heir of Julius Caesar, that the Roman month of Sextilis was renamed in his honour.This book presents a fascinating analysis of the ways in which Augustus was able to manipulate the mechanisms of power during his long reign (27 B.C.-14 A.D.). Augustus emerges as the classical world's true master of 'spin', demonstrating that political propaganda is far from just a modern phenomenon.Matthew Clark considers the Emperor's relationships with Maecenas, his political advisor, and Agrippa, his great commander, and the contrasting fates of Rome's most famous poets, Virgil and Ovid. He brings Augustus' political maneuvering to life and helps us to understand just how he was able to rise to supremacy, maintain power throughout his reign and create a lasting legacy.
A key figure in Roman History, Augustus (63 BC–14 AD) was the adopted son of Julius Caesar and the first to lead the Roman Empire; so mighty was he that upon his death the month previously known as Sextilis was renamed in his honor. In this volume, author Matthew D. H. Clark presents a fascinating analysis of how Augustus was able to manipulate the mechanisms of political power and use the classical world’s conception of propaganda to his advantage. Through an examination of the emperor’s relationship with Maecenas, his political advisor, and Agrippa, his great commander, as well as a host of historical personages, including the poets Virgil and Ovid, Augustus helps us understand this remarkable figure’s rise to power, as well as his lasting legacy.