Augustus suffers a severe illness in the late spring of 23 BCE, and on his supposed deathbed makes arrangements that will ensure the continuation of the Principate in some form, while at the same time put in doubt the senators' suspicions of his anti-republicanism.

Augustus prepares to hand down his signet ring to his favored general Agrippa.

However, Augustus hands over to his co-consul Piso all of his official documents, an account of public finances, and authority over listed troops in the provinces while Augustus' supposedly favored nephew Marcellus comes away empty-handed.

This is a surprise to many who believed Augustus would have named an heir to his position as an unofficial emperor.

Augustus bestows only properties and possessions to his designated heirs, as an obvious system of institutionalized imperial inheritance would have provoked resistance and hostility among the republican-minded Romans fearful of monarchy.

With regards to the Principate, it is obvious to Augustus that Marcellus is not ready to take on his position; nonetheless, by giving his signet ring to Agrippa, it is Augustus’ intent to signal to the legions that Agrippa is to be his successor, and that no matter what the constitutional rules were, they will continue to obey Agrippa.