Augustus Ceasar
Two of the most destructive problems facing the late Roman Republic were the instability and disunity caused by incessant civil wars. Rome's rapid expansion, after the Punic Wars, resulted in socioeconomic changes that permanently divided the state. Both aristocratic and plebeian parties sought total control of Rome and tried to destroy each other. Civil war was the continuation of party politics by other means. Consequently, the power of the military became supreme. Control of Rome's armies steadily shifted away from the legitimate government to the generals because the soldiers began to give their allegiance to their generals rather than to the civil authorities. On dismissal from military service, the legionnaires had no farms to return to, and they depended entirely on whatever land and money their generals could provide since the government was unwilling or unable to supply veterans with livelihoods. Thus, the generals became autonomous centers of power. The general who dominated the strongest army ruled the state. Repeated power struggles of these military strongmen ignited more civil wars that further undermined the stability and unity of the late Roman Republic. Augustus saw how divisive to the Roman polity civil war was. . . .
These new governors were given long terms of office in order to have ample time to implement long-term reforms. Another problem plaguing the late Roman Republic was the constant revolt of the provinces because of corruption and mismanagement. This measure greatly reduced the crime rate and the frequency of public riots, both of which were constant problems. Augustus became not only the secular head of Roman Empire but the religious leader as well. In addition, Augustus placed special significance on the traditional religion of Rome. The Lex Julia de maritis ordinandis prohibited celibacy and childless marriages. He also passed laws that restricted luxury and extravagance. Collected taxes went directly to the imperial treasury, and Augustus made sure that a certain portion of the revenues was allocated for the improvement of the provinces and not end up in the pockets of corrupt tax collectors. The main financial problem facing Augustus was how to raise money for military wages and pensions. Periodic censuses over the whole Empire were taken to obtain accurate data for tax collection. He also created new taxes to boost the government's income: a sales tax, an inheritance tax that was mandatory for all Roman citizens, and a tax on the manumission of slaves. In order to curb corruption, Augustus saw to it that the governors were compensated fairly for their work. To handle the issue of adultery, which the Romans then practiced extensively, Augustus enacted Lex Julia de adulteriis that made adultery a punishable crime. Augustus' priority was to reduce the number of the legions from 60 to 28, settling in the process more than 100,000 veterans in colonies in Italy, Africa, Asia, and Syria. This financial problem was partly solved when Augustus acquired Egypt as his personal possession.
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