History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 1 - Chapter III Part 1

In which the delicate constitution of the Roman Empire under the Antonines is scrutinised, revealing a monarchy veiled in republican forms and underscored by the singular authority of the emperor, Augustus, whose careful consolidation of civil, military, and religious powers established a new order that balanced appearance with absolute control. The senate, once a vibrant body of republican governance, is depicted as subdued and compliant, while the imperial court maintains an austere humility, and the practice of deifying emperors is examined as an artful blend of ancient custom and political expediency.