Augustus established and maintained his power in a number of ways. One such way, in which Augustus established power was through the senate and his elimination of opposition, the power was maintained through the consilium and the apparently sycophantic nature of the senate. Another aspect is the way in which Augustus gained support was through the public, with propaganda in the form of literature and monuments and his bread and circuses. The army was also important in Augustus' formation and maintenance of power. Augustus' reforms and policies also helped with his power.

Augustus established power through his purging of the senate and maintained power with his influence over the senate particularly through the consilium. Augustus obtained control over the senate through the elimination of any senators he thought unworthy of the role and that he perceived as a threat. Cassius Dio tells us that "Caesar and Agrippa... revised...