Power, legitimization and propaganda in Imperial Rome
Power, legitimization and propaganda in Imperial Rome

Summary/Abstract: Undoubtedly, the question of power and its legitimization is very important – both from theoretical and practical points of view. Certainly, the question of power and the process of its legitimization is worth of analysis and presentation not only on the examples of modern societies but also in case of societies in more or less distant past. And so, the prresent article deals with the question of power and its legitimization (especially by different means of propagandsa) on the example of ancient Rome – especially the so-called Principate, i.e. Early Roman Empire (27 B.C. – 284 A.D.). During the Empire, the main purpose of propaganda was to strenhten the position of emperor himself. During the empire all military victories were used also (or even first of all) to strengthen position of the emperor. Namely from such point of view is probably best to analyze such the monuments like the Trajan’s Column in Rome or the monument in Adamclissi (in modern Romania). Such the purposes served also triumphal arches, got instance the triumphal arch devoted to Septimius Severus and his family at Leptis Magna. Undoubtedly, the imperial propaganda proved itself to be a very successful tool of the imperial power, acting together with well trained and equipped Roman army and with very efficient Roman bureaucracy.

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