The article explores how the concept of war shaped the understanding of imperial authority in the early Principate. The emperor emerged from the «Roman revolution» of the 1st century BC – a period marked by successive civil wars that predetermined his role as a militant commander. This martial role was further reinforced by the notion that external conquest served as a cornerstone of internal political security. Therefore, the representation of Augustus’s power, the first emperor, heavily emphasized its military character, which contributed to its legitimization. However, as opportunities for military campaigns became increasingly scarce, perceptions of war underwent a transformation. This shift gave rise to efforts to reframe the ruler’s image as that of a judge – a role no longer contingent on an aggressive expansionist policy for its legitimacy. Under Nero, the idea of war had entirely fallen out of favour, leading to the creation of the image of a reigning musician and advocate of the peaceful arts, whose creative endeavours were presented as upholding universal harmony and tranquillity.