|Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus|
|Emperor of the Roman Empire|
|Reign||16 January 27 BC – 19 August 14 AD|
|Julia the Elder;
Gaius Caesar (adoptive);
Lucius Caesar (adoptive);
|Gaius Octavius Thurinus (from birth to adoption by Julius Caesar in 44 BC);
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (from 44 to 27 BC);
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (from 27 BC until death in 14 AD)
|Father||Natural: Gaius Octavius;
Adoptive: Julius Caesar (in 44 BC)
|Mother||Atia Balba Caesonia|
|Born||23 September 63 BC (Roman calendar)
Rome, Roman Republic
|Died||19 August 14 AD (Julian calendar) (aged 75)
Nola, Italy, Roman Empire
|Burial||Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome|
|These articles cover Ancient Rome and the fall of the Republic|
|Cicero, Second Triumvirate|
Augustus (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) was the first and one of the most important Roman Emperors. He led Rome in its transition from a Republic to a great Empire.
Life[change | change source]
Octavian, as he was originally called, was the adopted son of the dictator of the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar. Octavian came into power in the Second Triumvirate. This was three men ruling over the Roman Republic: Mark Antony, Lepidus and Octavian.
All three were loyal to Julius Caesar, the assassinated dictator, killed in 44 BC. Following his death a civil war broke out across Rome, between those loyal to Caesar, and the conspirators, led by two of Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassius.
At first, Octavian was the junior partner in the triumvirate. Lepidus was more experienced in government, and Mark Antony was a fine military leader. The triumvirate defeated Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi, 42 BC, largely due to Antony's leadership. Then they split the leadership of the Republic three ways. Antony took the east, Lepidus took Spain and part of North Africa, and Octavian took Italy.
The triumvirate broke up in 33 BC, and disagreement turned to civil war in 31 BC. Antony was defeated by Octavian at the naval Battle of Actium and then at Alexandria. He committed suicide, as did his lover, Cleopatra VII of Egypt, in 30 BC.
After winning this bloody power struggle, Octavian was voted as Emperor by the Senate following the battle of Actium in 31 BC. He took the name "Augustus" (which meant 'exalted'). He ruled until AD 14, when his stepson and son-in-law Tiberius became Emperor in his place.
During his reign, some of those who were against his government were murdered (especially those senators who wanted to keep the Roman Republic). He promised to make Rome a Republic again, but instead proclaimed himself High Priest (Pontifex Maximus). Many temples in the provinces set up statues of him as one of their gods. The name of the month "August" in English (and most other European languages) comes from him.
Ancient sources[change | change source]
Historians often use the Res Gestae Divi Augusti as a source for Augustus. It was written by him as an inscription on his tomb which recorded all his achievements.
The historian Tacitus is often used by historians. He gives an anti-Augustan perspective, whereas many other sources and histories were written to flatter Augustus (propaganda). Some examples of writers like these are Velleius Paterculus, Virgil, Ovid. The most famous work of Augustan propaganda is the Virgil's Aeneid
Cassius Dio presents a quite impartial account of Augustus as emperor: he was writing in the reign of a later emperor.
Portraits[change | change source]
Bust of Augustus, palace of Versailles, 17th century
Bust of Augustus in old-age, palace of Versailles
References[change | change source]
- Robinson Jr., C. A. (May 1964). "Introduction". Selections from Greek and Roman historians. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. pp. xxix.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Augustus|