This question relies on several assumptions.
Firstly, that the Roman state will be militarily successful in a way that approximates its success as of actual history.
Secondly, that the growth in power of Roman military figures will transform them into warlords over time, again as of actual history.
Thirdly, that this will cause social instability, civil wars from the competition between these warlords, and civil war between those warlords and the state itself.
So, to elaborate the question further, was the extraordinary figure of Octavian representative of the level of talent required to create a newer, stable governmental model for Rome? Could someone of lesser talents, or more focused talents, have managed it? Would civil wars have continued to occur for a longer period of time without his stabilising influence, eventually leading to a much earlier collapse of the proto-Roman Empire?
I suppose additional questions include, would an Imperial system have come into place without Augustus? If not, what would have been a viable and stable alternative given the actual practical realities of the situation, and if yes, how would it have differed without Augustus to found it and codify it?
Firstly, that the Roman state will be militarily successful in a way that approximates its success as of actual history.
Secondly, that the growth in power of Roman military figures will transform them into warlords over time, again as of actual history.
Thirdly, that this will cause social instability, civil wars from the competition between these warlords, and civil war between those warlords and the state itself.
So, to elaborate the question further, was the extraordinary figure of Octavian representative of the level of talent required to create a newer, stable governmental model for Rome? Could someone of lesser talents, or more focused talents, have managed it? Would civil wars have continued to occur for a longer period of time without his stabilising influence, eventually leading to a much earlier collapse of the proto-Roman Empire?
I suppose additional questions include, would an Imperial system have come into place without Augustus? If not, what would have been a viable and stable alternative given the actual practical realities of the situation, and if yes, how would it have differed without Augustus to found it and codify it?