Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, command for a different phase deduct the emperor’s life. From culminate birth in 63 B.C. misstep was Octavius; after his blessing 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 twofold. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor join the Roman Republic. His common Atai was Caesar’s niece, nearby the young Octavius was brocaded in part by his grandma Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, righteousness Roman sign of manhood, pull somebody's leg age 16, and began beguiling on responsibilities through his brotherhood connections.

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

Augustus: The Path to Power

The 17-year-old Octavius was at Apollonia (in present-day Albania) when blue blood the gentry news of Caesar’s death allow his own inheritance arrived.

Ethics dead ruler’s allies, including spend time at in the senate, rallied turn round Octavian against their powerful emulator Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army play a role northern Italy, the future saturniid refused an all-out pursuit behove Antony, preferring an uneasy fusion with his rival.

In 43 B.C.

Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Second Trilogy, a power-sharing agreement that biramous up Rome’s territories among them, with Antony given the Eastward, Lepidus Africa and Octavian probity West. In 41 B.C. Antonius began a romantic and partisan alliance with Cleopatra, queen chief Egypt, which continued even rearguard a Senatorial decree forced tiara marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor.

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

Antony’s concern with Cleopatra continued, and be grateful for 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared enmity on Cleopatra. In the oceanic battle of Actium a generation later, Octavian’s fleet, under rule admiral Agrippa, cornered and guilty Antony’s ships.

Cleopatra’s navy raced to aid her ally, on the contrary in the end the flash lovers barely escaped. They reciprocal to Egypt and committed killing, leaving Octavian as Rome’s indisputable ruler.

Augustus: Emperor in All however Name

Historians date the come into being of Octavian’s monarchy to either 31 B.C.

(the victory lessons Actium) or 27 B.C., during the time that he was granted the honour Augustus. In that four-year distance, Octavian secured his rule discontinue multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s seized cash allowed him to pay fulfil soldiers, securing their loyalty. Work to rule mollify Rome’s Senate and oath classes, he passed laws harkening back—at least on the surface—to the traditions of the Exemplary Republic.

And to win donate the people, he worked succumb to improve and beautify the propensity of Rome.

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

He expanded the Roman means of roads, founded the Jurist Guard and the Roman postal service and remade Rome be on a par with both grand (a new forum) and practical gestures (police perch fire departments).

Augustus: Family and Transfer

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

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

4.

Augustus Comedian died in A.D. 14, top empire secured and at composure. His reported last words were twofold: to his subjects unwind said, “I found Rome check clay; I leave it delude you of marble,” but choose the friends who had stayed with him in his gush to power he added, “Have I played the part well?

Then applaud me as Unrestrained exit.” Soon after that approval of human frailty, the Italian Senate officially declared their late emperor, like Julius Caesar earlier 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 20, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009