Loss Of Power In Julius Caesar Suetonius

In Suetonius biography “twelve Caesars” we find ourselves leaving the Roman republic and entering the age of Roman rulers. Though the senate still exists they slowly begin to lose their power over Rome with each new ruler thus losing the power make significant social, political, and economic decision and becoming a decoration of tradition instead.. These decisions now fell to one man who was revered as a God. With these decisions falling onto one person now the question that appears is how should that power be used? According to Suetonius any leader must use his power for the continual expansion of the Roman empire, the improvement of the Roman lives and culture, and subtly maintain the tradition of the Roman senate.
For centuries Rome extended …show more content…
although at this point the senate has more power than during Nero's or Vespasian's time they are still below Julius caesar. Therefore this is significant because the senate represent the people therefore the julius caesar, in this use of power, is showing great respect toward Rome and her people and the republic that made Rome great. However this did not mean that caesar could disrespect the senate. Hence in suetonius biography of Caesar's death, Suetonius mentions that “as soon as caesar took his seat the conspirators crowded him as to pay their respects” as a result we find that Caesar did not stand greet his thereby breaking tradition and also suggesting that Caesar death was in a sense justified because romans values greatly and to break tradition was to be un Romen. In contrast upon grabbing Nero power he did not go to the senate first rather he went to the military. Moreover Nero further degraded the senate by throwing four hundred fifty senators into arena to be slaughtered for entertainment.This was a degrading blow to rome as the senate represent rome thus nero used his power to degrade rome even further rather than build her up. The Senate would continue to be disregarded until the time of vespasian's rule. Though he did not establish the Republic he did show a deal of respect by reforming it and removing …show more content…
Though Suetonius values the senate and tradition he his not shy to discreetly mention that breaking either for the growth and development of the Rome is the only acceptable time to do so. Hence his pardon and admiration for Vespasian and his dislike for rulers like nero who only abuse the power they are

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