How Emperor Augustus interfered with peoples’ marriages to stop Romans having sordid affairs

Before Emperor Augustus came to power, Rome was in a state of moral and social turmoil.

The long series of civil wars, initiated by the power struggles among Julius Caesar, Pompey, and later between Octavian himself and Mark Antony, had left the societal structure deeply fractured.

Consequently, the traditional moral values that had underpinned Roman society seemed to be eroding.

This decline was particularly visible in the lax attitudes towards marriage and the general dissolution of family values, which were once considered the backbone of Roman civic life. 

In this period, Augustus saw an opportunity to implement widespread reform. In particular, he portrayed himself as a restorer of Rome's ancient morals.

These laws targeted major societal issues such as marriage, adultery, and childbearing.

In doing so, he hoped to leverage this image to garner support from the Senate and the common people.

Through his proposed legislation, Augustus aimed to reduce the practice of adultery and incentivize marriage and childbearing among the elite.

These moves were politically astute, as they appeased the conservative faction. 

To enhance his authority, Augustus frequently invoked his title of Princeps, presenting himself as the "first citizen" rather than an autocratic ruler.

This allowed him to appear humble while controlling key political positions and institutions.

By utilizing this strategic title, he further solidified the belief that his leadership was integral to Rome's prosperity.

Furthermore, these laws wanted to articulate clear distinctions between acceptable and unacceptable social behaviors.

By so doing, it aligned personal morality with civic responsibility. 

The Leges Juliae, or Julian Laws, were a cornerstone of Emperor Augustus' ambitious reform agenda, instituted beginning in 18 BCE to address a range of social issues facing Rome.

Central to the Leges Juliae was the Lex Julia de Maritandis Ordinibus, which aimed to increase the declining rate of legitimate births by imposing penalties on those who remained unmarried or childless past a certain age.

For example, it penalized bachelors and childless couples while offering incentives for marriage and reproduction.

In effect, this law mandated marriage and procreation within the Roman elite: a strategy that was intended to populate the citizen body with offspring who could inherit and perpetuate traditional Roman virtues. 

Another significant piece of legislation was the Lex Julia de Adulteriis Coercendis, which was enacted in 17 BCE.

This law aimed to tackle the rampant issue of adultery. Under it, adultery became a public crime, and those accused faced severe consequences, including exile or confiscation of property.

In addition, this legislation empowered fathers and husbands to take direct action against offenders.

This move sought to reestablish the patriarchal underpinnings of Roman society.  

The Leges Papia Poppaea, or Papal-Poppean Laws, followed the Julian Laws and expanded on Augustus' moral reforms.

Enacted in 9 CE, these laws intended to tackle the persistent issue of declining birth rates within the Roman upper classes.

Augustus sought to incentivize childbirth by bestowing rewards upon families that had three or more children.

Furthermore, the legislation penalized those who remained celibate or failed to produce offspring. It even deprived them of inheritance rights. 

In this legislation, married men and women with children were granted privileges in property inheritance and public honors.

In contrast, unmarried and childless citizens faced significant social and financial repercussions.

They even penalized celibacy.  In fact, it became a blueprint for Augustus' idealized Roman family; it showed his vision for a productive society that relied on its core family values.  

The impact of Augustus' reforms was felt across every level of Roman society.

Ordinary citizens experienced the social pressure to marry and produce children, while those in the elite classes, like senators and equites, were directly incentivized or penalized based on their adherence to these moral standards.

Through these laws, Augustus aimed to mold a disciplined and family-oriented populace that would sustain Rome's glory for generations.

As a result, the marriage rates and birth rates among the aristocracy did see some improvement. 

However, many of the penalties for celibacy and childlessness created resentment, especially among certain members of the senatorial class who viewed the rules as a violation of personal liberty.

Regardless, Augustus persisted in pushing his agenda as he understood the long-term political and societal gains that could be achieved through these measures.

Among the wider population, the effects of the laws were mixed. Some families prospered under the new incentives, enjoying the privileges provided to parents with multiple children.

Others, particularly women, felt the strict regulations boxed them into traditional roles as wives and mothers.