Augustus and the Roman Legal Revolution: The Shadow Laws

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Augustus's transformation of the Roman legal system, focusing on the shadowy world of the cognitio extraordinaria and the emperor's direct intervention in justice. They discuss the role of the Praetorian prefect as a judge, the creation of the office of the urban prefect (praefectus urbi), and how Augustus used legal reforms to consolidate power. The conversation covers the suppression of the secret tribunals of the late Republic, the impact of the lex Iulia iudiciorum publicorum, and the case of the conspirator Murena. Specific details include the trial of the poet Ovid, the use of the ius respondendi, and the establishment of the imperial chancery. The episode reveals how Augustus quietly built a parallel legal system that bypassed the Senate and the traditional courts, setting a precedent for later emperors. #Augustus #RomanLaw #CognitioExtraordinaria #PraefectusUrbi #PraetorianPrefect #Murena #LexIuliaIudiciorumPublicorum #Ovid #IusRespondendi #ImperialJustice #RomanEmpire #LegalReform #ShadowLaws #Princeps #AncientRome #History #FexingoHistory #LegalHistory #AugustusCaesar #Principate Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo