[19] C. 15 states the number colonized at 120,000. The 200,000 over and above the 300,000 here named, are accounted for in the twenty-five legions, 150,000 men in service at his death, leaving only 50,000 as the number who died in service or were dishonorably discharged during the long rule of Augustus. For a study of the strength and disposition of the Roman army at the death of Augustus, cf. Mommsen’s R. G., pp. 67-76.
[20] The term of service in 741, was twelve years for praetorian soldiers and sixteen for legionaries, raised in 758 to sixteen and twenty years respectively. Cf. c. 17, N. 2.
[21] The reading of Wölfflin and others (see textual note) would give instead of “lands purchased by me,” “I have assigned lands,” and instead of “money for farms, out of my own means” “money for reward of service.” Bormann, Schr. Nachl. p. 18-20, does not think that Augustus meant to state that he paid these charges from private sources, but believes that such a statement would be irrelevant in this section, if true, and an anticipation of cc. 15 and 16.
[22] Sextus Pompeius lost thirty ships at Mylae, and at Naulochus, out of three hundred which he had, eighteen were sunk and the rest, with the exception of seventeen, burned or captured. Cf. App. B. C. V, 108, 118, 121. Plut. Ant. 68, says that Augustus took 300 ships at Actium. These captures give, in round numbers, 600 vessels.
[23] The ovation was the lesser triumph. The general entered the city clad as an ordinary magistrate, and on foot, or as here, (see the Greek), on horseback, decked with myrtle. Suet. Aug. 22, says, these ovations were after Philippi, and the Sicilian war; the former in 714, the latter, Nov. 13, 718. Cf. Dio XLVIII, 31, XLIX, 15; C. I. L. I, p. 461.
[24] In the curule triumph, for important victories, the general was vested in purple, and rode in a four-horse chariot, preceded by the fasces. These three triumphs were celebrated on the 13th, 14th and 15th of August, 725, for the Dalmatian successes, the victory of Actium and the capture of Alexandria. Cf. C. I. L. 1, p. 328 and 478. Prop. II, 1, 31, ff, gives an eye-witness’ account of the second day. Cf. Livy, Ep. CXXXIII; Suet. Aug. 22; Verg. Aen. VIII; 714, Dio LI, 21.
[25] The acclamation as imperator, on account of success in war, must be carefully distinguished from the title used as a prefix to the name and as a mark of perpetual authority. The title imperator was regularly and permanently assumed at the beginning of each reign, after that of Augustus. To him it was formally assigned by the senate, in Jan., 725. C. I. L., V, 1873: Senatus populusque Romanus imp. Cæsari, divi. Juli. f. cos. quinct. cos. design. sext. imp. sept. republica conservata. The term thus had a double usage and meaning in such cases.
It soon came about that only the princeps could assume the special designation for military successes, no matter whether won by him in person or not. Tacitus says, Ann. III, 74: “Tiberius allowed Blaesus to be saluted as imperator by the legions. Augustus conceded the title to some, but Tiberius’ allowing it to Blaesus was the last instance.” For a discussion of Imperator as permanent title, see Gardthausen, p. 527, and Merivale, History of the Romans, c. XXXI.
Most of the acclamations of Augustus as imperator can be traced. No Greek inscription records them. A list follows. In the later instances Tiberius was associated.
I. April 15 (?) 711. After battles about Mutina. C. I. L. X, 8375 and Dio XLVI, 38.