Trouble in Paradise
Augustus thought that he had solved the problems at home well enough to go to his provinces in Gaul and Spain for military action in 27. For the three years he was gone, trouble fomented at home. The old Republicans were no longer fooled by the wool over their eyes. He returned in 24 and his amazing 11th consulship in 23 did not help the environment any. In 22 there was even a plot to assassinate him. Then, before anything else happened, he fell mortally ill.

During his illness, he made Agrippa his successor, angering Tiberius, his adopted son, who went into self-imposed exile. When he recovered, he realized that changes would have to be made in order to preserve the Empire in case of his death. He realized that the consulship was still something that Senators strove for and that by holding that position in perpetuity he was reducing their chances of becoming consul and thereby causing discontent. In 23, he resigned the position of consul, and in return was given or re-affirmed the power of a tribune- tribunicia potestas. He thereafter made this the source of all his power, and from 23 on he counted years according to how many of the years he had held the tribunician power. Of course, nevermind that he was legally unable to hold that power because he had been adopted into a patrician family.

As tribune he could convene the Senate and present legislation, but it wasn’t as much power as he had held as consul, so he was allowed the consular right to nominate candidates, and once they were in office they had to swear to uphold all of his past and future acts. His proconsular authority was made maius- greater than that of all the other proconsuls. He could override them as well as control all of the legions in the Roman army if necessary.