08-11-2010, 07:54 PM
I think that Velleius Paterculus, Roman history 2.89, is pretty strong evidence that the Romans did not realize what had happened.
Quote:nothing that the gods can grant to a man, nothing that wish can conceive or good fortune bring to pass, which Augustus on his return to the city did not bestow upon the republic, the Roman people, and the world. The civil wars were ended after twenty years, foreign wars suppressed, peace restored, the frenzy of arms everywhere lulled to rest; validity was restored to the laws, authority to the courts, and dignity to the senate; the power of the magistrates was reduced to its former limits, with the sole exception that two were added to the eight existing praetors. The old traditional form of the republic was restored.Velleius is one of the view authors who actually lived in this age; he is a key witness, I'd say.
