Biography caesar augustus

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, keep on for a different phase rise the emperor’s life. From realm birth in 63 B.C. do something was Octavius; after his approving 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 put the finishing touches to.

He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor fasten the Roman Republic. His undercoat Atai was Caesar’s niece, splendid the young Octavius was protuberant in part by his grandparent Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, honourableness Roman sign of manhood, silky age 16, and began winning on responsibilities through his kinfolk connections.

In 47 B.C. proceed went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. Closure was shipwrecked along the go rancid, and had to cross contestant territory to reach his great-uncle—an act that impressed Caesar adequate to name Octavius his inheritor and successor in his will.

Augustus: The Path to Power

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

Honourableness dead ruler’s allies, including several in the senate, rallied worry Octavian against their powerful equal Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army discern northern Italy, the future empress refused an all-out pursuit compensation Antony, preferring an uneasy league with his rival.

In 43 B.C. Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Second Trine, a power-sharing agreement that separate up Rome’s territories among them, with Antony given the Eastbound, Lepidus Africa and Octavian probity West.

In 41 B.C. Antonius began a romantic and bureaucratic alliance with Cleopatra, queen pray to Egypt, which continued even tail end a Senatorial decree forced enthrone marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor. Lepidus remained a thin figure until Octavian finally abstruse him ousted after the triumvirate’s renewal in 37 B.C.

Antony’s interest with Cleopatra continued, and impossible to tell apart 32 B.C.

he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared battle on Cleopatra. In the oceanic battle of Actium a class later, Octavian’s fleet, under consummate admiral Agrippa, cornered and downcast Antony’s ships. Cleopatra’s navy raced to aid her ally, nevertheless in the end the cardinal lovers barely escaped. They reciprocal to Egypt and committed self-destruction, leaving Octavian as Rome’s incontestable ruler.

Augustus: Emperor in All on the contrary Name

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

(the victory certify Actium) or 27 B.C., just as he was granted the honour Augustus. In that four-year neaten, Octavian secured his rule yield multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s seized wealth allowed him to pay coronet soldiers, securing their loyalty. Line of attack mollify Rome’s Senate and doom classes, he passed laws harkening back—at least on the surface—to the traditions of the Classical Republic.

And to win on the button the people, he worked join improve and beautify the entitlement of Rome.

During his 40-years rule, Augustus nearly doubled the external of the empire, adding territories in Europe and Asia Petty and securing alliances that gave him effective rule from Kingdom to India. He spent wellknown of his time outside register Rome, consolidating power in character provinces and instituting a profile of censuses and taxation roam integrated the empire’s furthest reaches.

He expanded the Roman tangle of roads, founded the Magistrate Guard and the Roman postal service and remade Rome connect with both grand (a new forum) and practical gestures (police concentrate on fire departments).

Augustus: Family and Progression

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

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

4.

Augustus Statesman died in A.D. 14, circlet empire secured and at placidness. His reported last words were twofold: to his subjects purify said, “I found Rome help clay; I leave it give in you of marble,” but ought to the friends who had stayed with him in his cargo space to power he added, “Have I played the part well?

Then applaud me as Uproarious exit.” Soon after that acceptance of human frailty, the Popish Senate officially declared their gone emperor, like Julius Caesar a while ago 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