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Document Details : Title: Das Laboratorium der Alleinherrschaft Subtitle: Konfliktkonstellationen in Livius' Narrativ der Königszeit Author(s): STEFFENSEN, Nils Journal: Latomus Volume: 80 Issue: 2 Date: 2021 Pages: 417-447 DOI: 10.2143/LAT.80.2.3289775 Abstract : Livy’s account of early Roman monarchy is often interpreted as a form of literary support for, or criticism of, Augustus. This article takes a different perspective on Book I of AUC. Its starting point is the reorganisation of the Roman political system in the twenties BCE. It was certain that Augustus would continue to play a decisive role in politics. The future form of the res publica, however, was less clear. This article holds that Livy conceives early Roman monarchy as a historical example of the structural challenges for a monarchy as it would possibly be re-established in Rome. The focus is on the issues of succession and of maintaining power. From this perspective, the didactic purpose of Book I is to sketch possible scenarios for future Roman politics and to set out patterns for successful as well as unsuccessful solutions to vital problems a monarch had to face. |
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