augustus
...arged the people a huge tax. When they could not pay; he expelled them from their city. Also when Augustus fought and killed Brutus the man who killed Caesar he had his head sent back to Rome and “thrown at the feet of Julius’ divine image”. This sounds more like a cruel person then a benevolent one. During the fighting Hirtius and Parsa had “suspicious deaths” in which Augustus took over their armies (Suetonius, p.59). Augustus showed no mercy to some of his people. When a father and a son pleaded for their lives Augustus said he would pardon one. So the father being the good father that he was had his son spared. When the father was killed the son committed suicide and Augustus watched them both die. He had the same answer for all prisoners who “sued for pardon” “You all must die” (Suetonius, p.60). He also forced Anthony the man who helped him gain power, to commit suicide. He wanted his wife, Cleopatra. She committed suicide and he raised their children as if they were his own. Anthony’s other children from another wife were killed. Augustus was not always so cruel; he had the city of Rome rebuilt so that it was worthy enough to be the capital. He said “I found Rome built of brick; I leave her clothed in marble” (Suetonius, p.69). This was very true too; he built the Temple of Avenging Mars, the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Jupiter the Thunderer. These were magnificent buildings built to show that Rome was the richest and most powerful city in the world. Augustus also made huge strides in the justice system; he said all men who made a claim against another man would have to suffer the same penalty if he lost the case. This was to stop people from making false claims (Suetonius, p.72). Augustus also made new offices in government to deal with the upkeep of public building, roads and aqueducts. This gave more men experience in government duties. Augustus also helped the military by not show...