Augustus framed his supremacy as informal authority rather than constitutional power

Evidence

Henceforth, I exceeded all men in authority (auctoritas), but I had no greater power (potestas) than those who were my colleagues in any given magistracy. — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 259

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 259
• XREF: connects to: Augustus imitated Alexander to represent imperial power in Rome. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 511; The Roman Senate’s permanence outmatched short-term officials’ legal power