Excepting only this short, though violent eruption of military license, the two centuries from Augustus [29] to Commodus passed away unstained with civil blood, and undisturbed by revolutions.

The emperor was elected by the authority of the senate, and the consent of the soldiers.

[30] The legions respected their oath of fidelity; and it requires a minute inspection of the Roman annals to discover three inconsiderable rebellions, which were all suppressed in a few months, and without even the hazard of a battle.

[31] [Footnote 281: Caligula perished by a conspiracy formed by the officers of the praetorian troops, and Domitian would not, perhaps, have been assassinated without the participation of the two chiefs of that guard in his death .-- W.] [Footnote 29: Augustus restored the ancient severity of discipline.
After the civil wars, he dropped the endearing name of Fellow-Soldiers, and called them only Soldiers, (Sueton.

in August.c.