| This study investigated the strength and eventual decay of republican opposition to the imperial rule of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula. Over the half-century rule of these three Emperors, republican opposition against the Princeps varied according to the strength of senatorial unity and the Princeps' ability to maintain the facade of the Republic. Both ancient and modern historians make clear that the unity among senators proved strong at first and, despite their fawning over their new ruler, they managed to do their share of governing. Eventually, however, the Emperors handed out prestige to the Senate instead of real power, and the selfish ambitions of the senators made them turn against each other rather than unite against the increasing authority of the Princeps. Upon the death of Caligula, the Senate attempted a return to the ancient Republic. Unfortunately, too much time had passed under imperial rule, and the unity of the senators proved weak after so many decades of infighting. The result of this senatorial decay was a much stronger Emperor in the form of Claudius, who usurped the remaining powers of the Senate to govern the city and the empire. Upon Claudius' ascension, all effective republican opposition was dead. |
