Why Did Augustus Use Of Political Propaganda

Under Augustus’ reign, the borders of the empire were stretched to the Rhine and the Danube on the north, to the Atlantic Ocean on the west, to the desert of Africa on the south, and nearly to the Euphrates on the east. The only two frontier nations that threatened to disrupt the efficiency of Rome were the Parthians and the Germans. The Parthians still held the standards lost by Crassus, a great source of shame to the Roman people. However, using diplomatic channels, he was able to reclaim the standards. A symbolic victory only for there were whispers of disenchantment for not avenging Crassus and his legions with war. In an act of pure political propaganda, Augustus used the return of the standards as symbolizing the prostration of Parthia to Rome. Furthermore, to protect Rome 's eastern territories from the Parthian Empire, Augustus relied on the allied states to act as regional buffers, using areas that could raise their own troops, all the while claiming he held the frontiers with Roman might. Thus, abandoning the quest to conquer the Parthenia’s by the sword, he looked to the Germans and decided to invade. After many skirmishes, with limited success, his general, Varus, was slain and three Roman legions were devastated by the Germans at the battle of the Teutoberg forest (9 A.D.). His track record for arguable his greatest conquests remain doubtful. In addition to this sleight of hand and downright defeat, acclaim was given to Augustus for each ensuing military victory. Moreover, if a battle took place in a Senatorial province, Augustus ' proconsular imperium maius allowed him to take all credit for any triumph. …show more content…
For example, when Augustus had resigned as consul, he sought to keep his consular imperium throughout the empire. This wish led to a second concession amongst him and the Senate. This is known as the Second