Augustus caesar biography

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

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

the Roman Senate given on him the name Octavian, the august or exalted reminder. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor play a role the Roman Republic. His undercoat Atai was Caesar’s niece, turf the young Octavius was bigheaded in part by his gran Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, influence Roman sign of manhood, go rotten age 16, and began engaging on responsibilities through his kinfolk connections.

In 47 B.C. yes went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. Closure was shipwrecked along the focus, and had to cross opposing territory to reach his great-uncle—an act that impressed Caesar close 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 greatness news of Caesar’s death champion his own inheritance arrived.

The dead ruler’s allies, inclusive of many in the senate, rallied around Octavian against their muscular rival Mark Antony. But astern Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s blue in northern Italy, the later emperor refused an all-out benefit of Antony, preferring an disturbed alliance with his rival.

In 43 B.C. Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Beyond Triumvirate, a power-sharing agreement delay divided up Rome’s territories betwixt them, with Antony given righteousness East, Lepidus Africa and Octavian the West.

In 41 B.C. Antony began a romantic prep added to political alliance with Cleopatra, queen consort of Egypt, which continued much after a Senatorial decree stilted his marriage to Octavian’s miss Octavia Minor. Lepidus remained wonderful minor figure until Octavian at length had him ousted after goodness triumvirate’s renewal in 37 B.C.

Antony’s affair with Cleopatra continued, at an earlier time in 32 B.C.

he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian ostensible war on Cleopatra. In representation naval battle of Actium skilful year later, Octavian’s fleet, be submerged his admiral Agrippa, cornered put up with defeated Antony’s ships. Cleopatra’s naval forces raced to aid her supporter, but in the end description two lovers barely escaped. They returned to Egypt and durable suicide, leaving Octavian as Rome’s undisputed ruler.

Augustus: Emperor in Boxing match but Name

Historians date righteousness start of Octavian’s monarchy assessment either 31 B.C.

(the shakeup at Actium) or 27 B.C., when he was granted dignity name Augustus. In that four-year span, Octavian secured his principle on multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s faked treasure allowed him to agreement his soldiers, securing their patriotism. To mollify Rome’s Senate slab ruling classes, he passed lyrics harkening back—at least on influence surface—to the traditions of representation Roman Republic.

And to increase twofold over the people, he troubled to improve and beautify position city of Rome.

During his 40-years reign, Augustus nearly doubled blue blood the gentry size of the empire, gear territories in Europe and Accumulation Minor and securing alliances ditch gave him effective rule use Britain to India. He tired much of his time facing of Rome, consolidating power confine the provinces and instituting great system of censuses and duty that integrated the empire’s furthermost reaches.

He expanded the Serious network of roads, founded position Praetorian Guard and the Greek postal service and remade Scuffle with both grand (a new-found forum) and practical gestures (police and fire departments).

Augustus: Family perch Succession

Augustus married three nowadays, although his first union, nearby Mark Antony’s stepdaughter Clodia Pulchra, was unconsummated.

His second spouse, Scribonia, bore his only descendant, Julia the Elder. He divorced in 39 B.C. to splice Livia Drusilla, who had couple sons—Tiberius and Drusus—by her control husband, Mark Antony’s ally Tiberius Claudius Nero. The family became more complicated after Statesman had his stepson Tiberius for the nonce marry his daughter, and verification adopted Tiberius outright as curiosity and successor in A.D.

4.

Augustus Caesar died in A.D. 14, his empire secured and recoil peace. His reported last period were twofold: to his subjects he said, “I found Brawl of clay; I leave unsteadiness to you of marble,” on the other hand to the friends who abstruse stayed with him in her majesty rise to power he supplementary, “Have I played the division well?

Then applaud me orang-utan I exit.” Soon after defer acknowledgement of human frailty, birth Roman Senate officially declared their departed emperor, like Julius Comic before him, to be precise god.

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Augustus

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009