The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Next, Gibbon turns to the topic of Rome’s politics. Gibbon describes the Roman Empire by the second century CE as a monarchy. He remarks that monarchy inevitably turns into “despotism” unless there is a check on the monarchy, like a strong clergy, nobility, or a “stubborn commons” (59).

Rome had been a republic, but the empire essentially became a monarchy in all but name with the rise of Julius Caesar’s great-nephew, Octavianus, who became the first emperor, Augustus. The Senate of Rome voted to give Augustus significant powers over the government. Still, Augustus took absolute power while still maintaining the charade of restoring the republic after decades of civil war. Roman generals also generally had tremendous power over their soldiers. When Augustus came to power, he entrusted military responsibilities to his chosen lieutenants.

Still, Augustus adopted the powers of many of the old political offices of the republic, like the censor (who oversaw public morality and state finances), the consul (the executive office, like a president or prime minister), the tribune (who was the people’s representative), and the pontiff (the high priest).