Auctoritas Italiae

This paper aims to investigate the\r\npolitical meaning of the expression auctoritas\r\npopuli by Cicero (Man. 63-64) and of the\r\nexpression auctoritas Italiae by Cicero (Sest. 35)\r\nand by Caesar (BC 1.35.1) : they are alternative\r\nand polemic against the auctoritas senatus and\r\nthe potestas of the consuls and praetors, which\r\nSulla had enhanced. Caesar’s choice was mostly\r\nfundamental: as his letters written in 49 BC to\r\nthe Italian cities (D.C. 41.10.2) demonstrate, Italy\r\nas the whole of Roman citizens having right\r\nto vote becomes in his opinion a politically\r\nactive subject, whose auctoritas can legitimate\r\nhis acts and deeds. The recent publication of\r\nthe Fasti Privernates has revealed that Caesar’s\r\nperpetual dictatorship has to be meant not as\r\n“everlasting”, but as “undetermined”: probably\r\nCaesar purposed to give it up after his return\r\nfrom the Parthian campaign and to replace with\r\nhis own auctoritas: Augustus (RGDA 34.3) was\r\nhis conscious heir.