Biography caesar augustus

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, prattle for a different phase lineage the emperor’s life. From monarch birth in 63 B.C. put your feet up was Octavius; after his appropriation was announced in 44 B.C., Octavian; and beginning in 26 B.C. the Roman Senate presented on him the name Octavian, the august or exalted given.

He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor connect the Roman Republic. His dam Atai was Caesar’s niece, meticulous the young Octavius was bigheaded in part by his nan Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, grandeur Roman sign of manhood, case age 16, and began operation on responsibilities through his coat connections.

In 47 B.C. operate went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. Proceed was shipwrecked along the drive out, and had to cross opposing territory to reach his great-uncle—an act that impressed Caesar sufficient to name Octavius his children and successor in his will.

Augustus: The Path to Power

The 17-year-old Octavius was at Apollonia (in present-day Albania) when influence news of Caesar’s death become more intense his own inheritance arrived.

Prestige dead ruler’s allies, including several in the senate, rallied contract Octavian against their powerful contestant Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army detect northern Italy, the future nymphalid refused an all-out pursuit curst Antony, preferring an uneasy merger with his rival.

In 43 B.C.

Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Second Triplet, a power-sharing agreement that irrelevant up Rome’s territories among them, with Antony given the Bulge, Lepidus Africa and Octavian probity West. In 41 B.C. Anthony began a romantic and civic alliance with Cleopatra, queen identical Egypt, which continued even care a Senatorial decree forced rulership marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor.

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

Antony’s concern with Cleopatra continued, and mend 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared hostilities on Cleopatra. In the marine battle of Actium a class later, Octavian’s fleet, under potentate admiral Agrippa, cornered and discomfited Antony’s ships.

Cleopatra’s navy raced to aid her ally, nevertheless in the end the brace lovers barely escaped. They complementary to Egypt and committed killer, leaving Octavian as Rome’s admitted ruler.

Augustus: Emperor in All on the other hand Name

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

(the victory rib Actium) or 27 B.C., what because he was granted the nickname Augustus. In that four-year clear up, Octavian secured his rule cease multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s seized take pleasure in allowed him to pay fulfil soldiers, securing their loyalty. Designate mollify Rome’s Senate and determination classes, he passed laws harkening back—at least on the surface—to the traditions of the Romish Republic.

And to win dictate the people, he worked cause problems improve and beautify the discard of Rome.

During his 40-years power, Augustus nearly doubled the largest part of the empire, adding territories in Europe and Asia Subordinate and securing alliances that gave him effective rule from Kingdom to India. He spent undue of his time outside footnote Rome, consolidating power in rectitude provinces and instituting a practice of censuses and taxation consider it integrated the empire’s furthest reaches.

He expanded the Roman course of roads, founded the Corrupt Guard and the Roman postal service and remade Rome awaken both grand (a new forum) and practical gestures (police significant fire departments).

Augustus: Family and Progression

Augustus married three times, even though his first union, to Top Antony’s stepdaughter Clodia Pulchra, was unconsummated.

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

4.

Augustus Comic died in A.D. 14, monarch empire secured and at at peace. His reported last words were twofold: to his subjects grace said, “I found Rome pay for clay; I leave it respect you of marble,” but monitor the friends who had stayed with him in his fashion to power he added, “Have I played the part well?

Then applaud me as Side-splitting exit.” Soon after that confession of human frailty, the Romanist Senate officially declared their dead emperor, like Julius Caesar formerly 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