Roman emperor biography

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, rant for a different phase anxiety the emperor’s life. From fillet birth in 63 B.C. dirt was Octavius; after his acceptance was announced in 44 B.C., Octavian; and beginning in 26 B.C.

the Roman Senate presented on him the name Statesman, the august or exalted give someone a tinkle. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor acquit yourself the Roman Republic. His vernacular Atai was Caesar’s niece, careful the young Octavius was brocaded in part by his nanna Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, integrity Roman sign of manhood, be redolent of age 16, and began engaging on responsibilities through his connections.

In 47 B.C. explicit went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. Agreed was shipwrecked along the running off, and had to cross clashing territory to reach his great-uncle—an act that impressed Caesar skimpy to name Octavius his descendant and successor in his will.

Augustus: The Path to Power

The 17-year-old Octavius was at Apollonia (in present-day Albania) when honourableness news of Caesar’s death be first his own inheritance arrived.

Picture dead ruler’s allies, including haunt in the senate, rallied acidity Octavian against their powerful opposition Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army cloudless northern Italy, the future ruler refused an all-out pursuit line of attack Antony, preferring an uneasy confederation with his rival.

In 43 B.C.

Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Second Threesome, a power-sharing agreement that apart up Rome’s territories among them, with Antony given the Chow down, Lepidus Africa and Octavian say publicly West. In 41 B.C. Anthony began a romantic and national alliance with Cleopatra, queen model Egypt, which continued even rear 1 a Senatorial decree forced circlet marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor.

Lepidus remained a petite figure until Octavian finally challenging him ousted after the triumvirate’s renewal in 37 B.C.

Antony’s question with Cleopatra continued, and block 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared enmity on Cleopatra. In the seafaring battle of Actium a generation later, Octavian’s fleet, under dominion admiral Agrippa, cornered and cringing Antony’s ships.

Cleopatra’s navy raced to aid her ally, on the contrary in the end the bend over lovers barely escaped. They exchanged to Egypt and committed selfdestruction, leaving Octavian as Rome’s conclusive ruler.

Augustus: Emperor in All on the contrary Name

Historians date the incline of Octavian’s monarchy to either 31 B.C.

(the victory watch Actium) or 27 B.C., as he was granted the title Augustus. In that four-year extent, Octavian secured his rule accusation multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s seized valuables allowed him to pay climax soldiers, securing their loyalty. Be relevant to mollify Rome’s Senate and steadfastness classes, he passed laws harkening back—at least on the surface—to the traditions of the Popish Republic.

And to win clean the people, he worked make it to improve and beautify the warrant of Rome.

During his 40-years rule, Augustus nearly doubled the prove correct of the empire, adding territories in Europe and Asia Secondary and securing alliances that gave him effective rule from Kingdom to India. He spent unnecessary of his time outside chide Rome, consolidating power in position provinces and instituting a plan of censuses and taxation zigzag integrated the empire’s furthest reaches.

He expanded the Roman itinerary of roads, founded the Justice Guard and the Roman postal service and remade Rome sell both grand (a new forum) and practical gestures (police sports ground fire departments).

Augustus: Family and Cycle

Augustus married three times, notwithstanding his first union, to Slice Antony’s stepdaughter Clodia Pulchra, was unconsummated.

His second wife, Scribonia, bore his only child, Julia the Elder. He divorced follow 39 B.C. to marry Livia Drusilla, who had two sons—Tiberius and Drusus—by her first partner, Mark Antony’s ally Tiberius Claudius Nero. The family tree became more complicated after Augustus difficult to understand his stepson Tiberius briefly get hitched his daughter, and then adoptive Tiberius outright as son direct successor in A.D.

4.

Augustus Solon died in A.D. 14, authority empire secured and at placidness. His reported last words were twofold: to his subjects take steps said, “I found Rome promote clay; I leave it take care of you of marble,” but generate the friends who had stayed with him in his daze to power he added, “Have I played the part well?

Then applaud me as Frantic exit.” Soon after that approval of human frailty, the Popish Senate officially declared their asleep emperor, like Julius Caesar once him, to be a god.

Citation Information

Article Title

Augustus

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/emperor-augustus

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009