RES PVPLICA RECONSTITVTA - a feasible set of reforms in the roman principate

This is my first attempt to design an alternate roman history. And I am afraid, it will be different to what you are used to read. This is not a story or a novel. I am no native speaker, so I am not able to write a good novel. And I like to formally apologize for my bad english in advance.

Therefore my approach is, to design a new roman empire with a set of beneficial reforms from a more scientific point of view. I will desribe these multiple reforms in detail. The goal of these reforms is, to design an administrative, political, social and militarian structure of the roman empire, which is hopefully able to avoid the flaws of the principate, include some of the good ideas from late empire earlier, and preserve more of the advantages of the roman republic, than Augustus' principate did.

The final question is: Are all these changes, I will describe, appropriate in order to empower the roman empire and are they feasible at all looking to the roman culture and mindset?

I would not call it a constitional monarchy. I am convinced, that this is impossible in the roman world. Roman history tells us, that "constitution is, what is enforceable". Even if constitution is everything, I do not expect too much from a piece of papyrus only in roman times. I am also convinced, that the roman republic was fully braindead years before Caesar crossed the Rubicon. So don't expect a nostalgic revival like Cicero described it in his letters. My idea is something like a better controlled, more stable and efficient principate in a more republican imperium, which is prospering and at the peak of its power for the next centuries.

I call it simply:


RES PVBLICA RECONSTITVTA (RPR)
A set of feasible reforms in the roman principate


Even if I promised, to not maltreat you with any attempt to write a story, I can't fully neglect contemporary history. So I will try to cover a little bit of contemporary history in my reforms, whenever it is expedient. One first case is, that every alternate history should have a starting point. My goal is, to change the principate for the better. So the question is, when is the perfect point of time and event? And who could be this brilliant guy, who will change the roman world forever?

One option I thought about initially, was Augustus himself. What if Augustus, after he saw, that his new principate was working well and is barely disputed anymore, came to the conclusion, that it is about time, to adjust his model again for the better? Well I think, Augustus was a true conservative roman aristocrat. No way, he will give up any power he reached the hard way for his julian-caesarian family. But perhaps Augustus could have a sympathetic ear, for his very familiar designated heir, discusses options and necessities with him and let him do the job, after he died peacefully.

My first idea was Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a great reformer and commander in Augustus' new team. But honestly, if Augustus really dies in 24 BC and Agrippa becomes princeps, the principate is still far away from stability. Augustus' longevity was a godsend for the principate and the main reason, why his succesor Tiberius could follow him that smoothly on the throne. And furthermore Agrippa would just have 12 more years under very bad circumstances to reform the republic to an extent, that it becomes a no-brainer.

Finally Euromellows with his thread "Interauctoritas and Renovatio" gave me the decisive hint, who can do it. After the death of Augustus it is the perfect time to start adjusting the principate. We just need another heir than Tiberius. And we get this heir with a more republican mindset, if Drusus does not fall from this damn horse!

So Drusus, not Tiberius is the heir of Augustus in my alternate history. Replace him with any other powerful and intellectual guy with a more republican mindset. It does'nt matter. And honestly, I don't care that much about persons anyways. I am thinking in structures and processes. So If you like to know more about Drusus, a possible contemporary history, and read a really great story, look for Euromellows thread:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=249126

My thread here is by no means any kind of competition or enhancement of Euromellows thread. It is a fully different approach to the subject, using the same event as a starting point by accident. Well No, I am using Drusus by very good reasons.

A few months after Drusus became princeps, and all this hype with ceremonies, parties and games was over, the first measure of the new emperor was a speech in the Senate of Rome.

In this first speech in front of the senate, he revealed relentlessly to the senate all the problems he saw with the current state of the principate. He explained clearly, why the current constitution is autocratic and this state will become autocratic, if just any future princeps got the balls to do so. And every senator of Rome is in danger to loose his power and perhaps his property and life, if just an other princeps rules.

He also explaines to the shocked senate that the legions are still the biggest threat for the young reconstituted republic, and again for the property and life of all roman senators. He as a princeps sees no chance, to avoid another civil war, if just the pressure to the state becomes bad enough by accident.

He accused the senators for still just taking care about their own wealth, career, dignitas and auctoritas while the people of Rome and most of the friendly and willing peregrines all over the empire are living on the breadline. He told the senate, that he is convinced, that a prospering empire with a prospering economy and increasing wealth for all romans is just possible longterm, if the senate itself becomes again responsible for SPQR and not just for themselves and their families.

Drusus even went into details, showing very precisely how taxation is flawed and the empire looses near to a billion sesterces per year. Money which is property of the people of Rome and should be under control of the honorable senate of Rome. He accused exploiting proconsules and corrupt judges namely in front of the senate. And he accused the senate itself, to prevent, that the good guys in the provinces and the central magistrate can do their job right, by not granting enough ressources to them.

Then he called the senate and the entire class of the senators undemocratic and traitors of the republic. Drusus pointed out clearly, that it is not acceptable from a roman point of view, that all the romans all over the world in the provinces got no political rights, simply because they are too far away from the comitia in Rome. He called that situation fully unroman and a derision of the fathers of the republic, every senator in this room is responsible for personally.

Finally Drusus tuned his voice down and sympathised with the senators, telling them, that he fully understands, that every roman has to take care about his wife, his chlidren and his clients. But, raising his voice again, Drusus postulated, that it is the holy duty of every roman senator to take his personal responsibility further than that.

Tuning down his voice again, he promised, that he will accept the challenge and design a set of reforms, which will lead the roman republic to a better future with more justice, freedom and wealth for the people and the senate of Rome.

At the end of his speech Drusus shortly listed the reforms, he considered necessary in order to reach this ambitious goal:

- a military reform to reorganize structure of the forces, functions and promotions

- a reform of provincial administration

- a reform of central administration

- a reform of communal administration in the City of Rome, all roman cities and and all cities of the empire willing to join.

- a reform of the duties and responsibilities of the classes of the roman society

- a reform of the infrastructure and communication in this wide empire

- a reform of education

- a reform to increase public health

- a reform of security in the provinces and all cities willing to join

- a reform of agriculture, finance & banking as well as economy & trade all over the empire

- a reform of census and taxation

- a reform of the jurisdiction on imperial and provincial level as well as for all roman cities.

- a reform of the military and civil part of the cursus honorum, rearranging all civil and military careers and partially their duties

- a reform of the roman senate and the comitia, the according processes, duties and responsibilities

- leading to an overall reform of the roman republican system on imperial, provincial and communal level under the guidance of the princeps

- and finally a strategy to deal with all threats at the borders of the roman empire conclusively and forever.

All senators, which were not busy at this point of time, to get the shit out of their toga, applauded heavily to this brisk and mighty new princeps.

More about these reforms in detail in the next days and weeks. I will start with the basic reforms first, most propably the military reform. So it will need some time until you get the full picture.

I beg your pardon for that, and I also ask you, to not hesitate to criticize every single aspect of my plan and the reforms. Just publishing some nice reforms leads to nothing but academic masturbation. With your strong feedback and the following discussion, we will perhaps figure out together, what was feasible in roman times and what not. Why some measures must fail, because unacceaptable for a roman, and why other measures might be succesful.

More to come soon .....

PS: Looking to this long list of necessary reforms, I just recognized how absurde the idea of a reconstituted roman republic really is :D
 
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INTERMEZZO

After Drusus speech in front of the senate an intensive disucssion started amongst the senators in the next weeks. Not only amongst the nobles, also the people of Rome got aware of Drusus plan and his reforms. And due to the fact, that rumours travel faster than any horse relay the discussion was soon ongoing in the legions and all cities of the roman empire.

Drusus himself remained calm, even if hundreds of his agents tried to steer all the rumours into the right direction all over the known world. The message was clear: The new princeps will change the republic, and everything will become better for everone. It is up to the roman senate to agree.

Drusus was smiling, while reading the last reports of his agents. He remembered about the beginning. He remembered the good old times, when he was young and had these endless discussion with Agrippa about his stepfather. And he remembers, what Agrippa told him about the principate, the repubic and more ....

Drusus: It sounded, like you had some serious trouble with him?

Agrippa: Oh, was it that loud? Just the usual dispute about the republic amongst good old friends.

Drusus: What's wrong with the republic?

Agrippa: Any chance, you could ask a less complex question?

Drusus: Why should I? It looks like I am the heir of this mess.

Agrippa: This republic isn't a republic

Drusus: Bad news, tell me something new

Agrippa: It is even not a monarchy and if you are nothing, you can't survive.

Drusus: So we need to decide about monarchy or republic?

Agrippa: Not really, both are bad, the perfect mix of both is the trick.

Drusus: And Caesar does not know about the perfect mix?

Agrippa:: No, this pighead understands nothing. At least not anymore after he sacked the senate finally

Drusus: Isn't that enough?

Agrippa: HELL NO!

Drusus: So whats the problem with this republic everybody loves?

Agrippa: You know!

Drusus: I don't know YOUR opinion and what Caesar means.

Agrippa: The first and foremost problem is, that our legions and their legates could start an usurpation everytime.

Drusus: The legionairs love the princeps

Agrippa: They are whores in armor. They get payed 3 times a year, and if you are just a few weeks late, they love the ass of their mule much more than any emperor, trust me.

Drusus: So pay them accordingly.

Agrippa: Of course, plus ensure food supply, weekly fresh new whores in the camp, and always a heated bath, and letters to mom forwarded properly. No faliure allowed, of course.

Drusus: You are whining on a damn high level. Thats not an issue, thats business as usual.

Agrippa: Oooh Boy...... But, yes, you are right, it is just a challenge. The major problem are the legates.

Drusus: They are? You selected them!

Agrippa: Yes I did, or Augustus did. But they are all damn fucking aristocrats!

Drusus: So we are.

Agrippa: Ooh NO boy! WE are far beyond these little aristocratic fuckers. We are the new central roman imperial adminstration and we are fighting all day long against these damn shortsighted aristocrats, especially, if they wear a gladius, and command tenthousands of these littles sharp things.

Drusus: So make them "beyond" like we are, make them part of this new central administration

Agrippa: To set the fox in charge ot the henhouse? Exactly this was, what I tried to explain to your beloved stepfather, when the discusion became a bit loud.

Drusus: Why not promote these guys and bring them to Rome under direct control of the princeps as a kind of general staff and high command? These guys then got no army anmore and could help to control the other legates in the field. Even if just by authority.

Agrippa: That was my proposal. Our best generals will come back to Rome, before they get dangerous and help to control the others: But he went thru the roof about this idea

Drusus: He does not like the consequences? This military high command will control the republic finally.

Agrippa: How could a true conservative roman like him like the idea of sharing his power with generals. Especially if he himself was such a lousy one?

Drusus: And the senators?

Agrippa: Who cares about them? They got no legions! But you are right, we need them perhaps to control the foxes, which herd the hens. Just to a certain extent of course. And to do all the administrative and civil jobs.

Drusus: Remember, most senators are generals and vice versa. And whats about the Equites?

Agrippa: We need them badly, too. You can't control an empire with a few sons of senators becoming mature evey year. We need much more educated guys.

Drusus: Hhmm, I see, it is called divide et impera.

Agrippa: Something like that. We have to split up the universal roman "imperium" amongst several people. And this has to be done for central and provincial administration, in order to reduce single personal power and easier control of the magistrates, proconsules and legates.

Drusus: I see the point about division of power, but who should control and coordinate all these guys with smaller responsibilities afterwards?

Agrippa: The princeps, the senate and to a certain extent the roman people.

Drusus: And who controls the princeps?

Agrippa: The senate of course

Drusus: Did you just say, that this senate is a bunch of selfish and incapable aristocrats?

Agrippa: Yes, we need a different senate for the imperium. We have to change census, election and promotion and reconstitute the senate and the comitia fundamentally. Including the role of the princeps.

Drusus: You are nuts, Caesar will never accept this.

Agrippa: Yes. Not He!

And Agrippa was smiling to the young Heir of the Princeps.
 
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Interesting. One question though: drusus living would surely have an effect on germs is and robes presence there. Either himself or Tiberius would remain in Germania, which means no teutoburg. I imagine this sound also have effects on his administrative reforms.

Other Than that, I am like where you are going with this. Your English is really good, though try to "have" instead of got. Definitely subscribing to this.
 
Interesting. One question though: drusus living would surely have an effect on germs is and robes presence there. Either himself or Tiberius would remain in Germania, which means no teutoburg. I imagine this sound also have effects on his administrative reforms.

Other Than that, I am like where you are going with this. Your English is really good, though try to "have" instead of got. Definitely subscribing to this.

Teutoburg forest will perhaps not happen or differently. Actually, when Drusus becomes emperor, the desaster perhaps happened already. The roman empire has some strategic plans with Germania, and this means more than the Elbe border. My question is not when or who, and perhaps Drusus is already dead, when Germania becomes conquered. My question is why and how.

But external affairs are just a minor point in my reforms. The major part will be internal political and administrative processes and responsibilities, as you will see soon.

And thanks for the flowers, I will take care about the "got" :D
 
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- and finally a strategy to deal with all threats at the borders of the roman empire conclusively and forever.


And for anyone who believes that it is possible to do this, I have been authorized to offer the Brooklyn Bridge for a song.


Speaking of the reforms in general, I shudder at how many entrenched interests are going to resent and resist this level of shakeup - no matter how good for the state and the majority of the people it may be for such reforms to happen.
 
- and finally a strategy to deal with all threats at the borders of the roman empire conclusively and forever.

Rememeber, this is a quotation of Drusus speech in front of the the senate. ;)
I agree, that his wording is very optimistic here. But I will keep you posted about his or his successors plans about Germania and the Parthian Empire. One hint in advance: Britannia is less urgent, than the other two.

Speaking of the reforms in general, I shudder at how many entrenched interests are going to resent and resist this level of shakeup - no matter how good for the state and the majority of the people it may be for such reforms to happen.

I agree, exactly this is one major reason why the republic failed. And why I am convinced, that just a top-down reform with the power of a princeps could be successful. And I would be more than happy to listen to your arguments, why my reforms can't work. The first part will come soon. And I know it is nuts, to reconstitute the republic, don't worry. Be assured, it will be not Ciceros republic.
 
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Rememeber, this is a quotation of Drusus speech in front of the the senate. ;)
I agree, that his wording is very optimistic here. But I will keep you posted about his or his successors plans about Germania and the Parthian Empire. One hint in advance: Britannia is less urgent, than the other two.

I still stand by the offer to sell the Brooklyn Bridge, although I'm glad that its part of Drusus's argument that the reforms should go through - just because we know better doesn't mean tehy do.

I agree, exactly this is one major reason why the republic failed. And why I am convinced, that just a top-down reform with the power of a princeps could be successful. And I would be more than happy to listen to your arguments, why my reforms can't work. The first part will come soon. And I know it is nuts, to reconstitute the republic, don't worry. Be assured, it will be not Ciceros republic.

Well, I'm going to wait and see what he attempts to comment on specifics as best as I can, but . . .

The thing is, it's not so much whether or not these reforms can't work if they actually get implemented - I think you hit on the majority (at least) of areas that should be addressed. Its that many people will resist implementing them.

Remaking the Roman state is an enormous project even with the cooperation of the people we're talking about - remaking it with their opposition becomes a battle I don't think can be won.

The Princeps's ability to actually make people do what he wants is ultimately subject to how far they're willing to be pushed.
 
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