The Augustan Empire 43 BC

the emperor.⁴⁰ And the king profited. Augustus enlarged his territorial holdings twice more in the decade after Actium: in 23 в.с. Herod's friendship with the princeps' son-in-law and chief helpmate M. Agrippa only enhanced his status further. The king orchestrated an elaborate tour and a lavish reception for Agrippa during his stay in the area in 15 B.C. and performed numerous services for him on a mission to Asia Minor.⁴¹ The tighter the bonds, however, the greater the dependency. The kingdom of Herod was evidently not liable for tribute to Rome.⁴² The obligations were subtler and more ambiguous, and thereby, in some ways, more demanding. Augustus gave to Herod some responsibility for supervision in Syria, thus, no doubt, to co-ordinate efforts with the princeps legate in that province.

⁴³ He also awarded to Herod the privilege of appointing his own successor.⁴⁴ The princeps presumably intended that gesture as a sign of esteem and an encouragement to independent behaviour. But the very fact that such a privilege had to be explicitly articulated is the most telling indicator of the true relationship. And the outcome only intensified subordination. Herod more than once thrust upon Augustus the burden of adjudicating disputes within the royal family. The sordid tale of intrigues in the court, domestic discord, and Herod's morbid suspicions which led to the execution of three sons need not be recounted here. The pertinent fact is that Herod declined to settle matters even in his own household without seeking the emperor's directions. His reign was long and memorable - but always precarious. Conflict between Herod and the Nabataeans led to recriminations in Rome, as the king alternately fell out of and was restored into the favour of Augustus.⁴⁵

Herod's will, twice rewritten during his lifetime, drew Augustus still further into the affairs of the realm after the Idumaean's death in 4 B.C. The document parcelled Herod's holdings among three sons. But it also provided for vast sums of money for Augustus, Livia, the imperial children, amici and freedmen, and it further specified that none of the provisions could take effect without ratification by the princeps.*

⁶

Troops for Aelius Gallus: Joseph. AJxv.} 17; the naming of Sebaste and Caesarea: Joseph. AJ xv.296, xv.339; the sending of sons to Rome: Joseph. A] xv.342; oath of allegiance: Joseph. A J xvii.42.

Territorial acquisitions: Joseph. AJxv.343-8, 360; BJ 1.398-400; Dio Liv.9.3; cf. Bietenhard 1977 (e 988) 238-40. Herod and Agrippa: Joseph. AJxv.350, xv.361, xvi.i 2-16, xvi.86; BJ, 1.400. Cf. Schalit 1969 (e 1206) 424-6; Smallwood 1976 (e 212) 86—90; Braund 1985 (c 254) 79—80, 85; Roddaz 1984 (c 200) 450-5.

As argued by Schiirer 1973 (e 1207) 1.399-427;

contra, Applebaum 1977 (e 1074) 373. But note the cash gift on a trip to Rome in 12 b.c.; Joseph. A J xvi. 128.

Joseph. AJ xv.360; BJ 1.399. ⁴⁴ Joseph. A] xv.343, xvi.i29.