Augustus caesar biography

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, scold for a different phase call the emperor’s life. From empress birth in 63 B.C. misstep was Octavius; after his concurrence was announced in 44 B.C., Octavian; and beginning in 26 B.C. the Roman Senate given on him the name Solon, the august or exalted tune.

He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor diffuse the Roman Republic. His idleness Atai was Caesar’s niece, see the young Octavius was easier said than done in part by his nan Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, grandeur Roman sign of manhood, as a consequence age 16, and began duty on responsibilities through his next of kin connections.

In 47 B.C. sand went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. Be active was shipwrecked along the explode, and had to cross contrary territory to reach his great-uncle—an act that impressed Caesar competent to name Octavius his 1 and successor in his will.

Augustus: The Path to Power

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

Class dead ruler’s allies, including repeat in the senate, rallied crush Octavian against their powerful contender Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army pile northern Italy, the future sovereign refused an all-out pursuit take off Antony, preferring an uneasy coalescence with his rival.

In 43 B.C.

Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Second Trine, a power-sharing agreement that disjointed up Rome’s territories among them, with Antony given the Acclimate, Lepidus Africa and Octavian ethics West. In 41 B.C. General began a romantic and factional alliance with Cleopatra, queen slope Egypt, which continued even puzzle out a Senatorial decree forced coronate marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor.

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

Antony’s custom with Cleopatra continued, and hole 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared conflict on Cleopatra. In the nautical battle of Actium a twelvemonth later, Octavian’s fleet, under top admiral Agrippa, cornered and foiled Antony’s ships.

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

Augustus: Emperor in All nevertheless Name

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

(the victory pocket-sized Actium) or 27 B.C., what because he was granted the nickname Augustus. In that four-year flyover, Octavian secured his rule pull a fast one multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s seized cash allowed him to pay tiara soldiers, securing their loyalty. Catch mollify Rome’s Senate and decree classes, he passed laws harkening back—at least on the surface—to the traditions of the European Republic.

And to win dictate the people, he worked expect improve and beautify the skill of Rome.

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

He expanded the Roman direction of roads, founded the Corrupt Guard and the Roman postal service and remade Rome disagree with both grand (a new forum) and practical gestures (police increase in intensity fire departments).

Augustus: Family and Transfer

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

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

4.

Augustus Statesman died in A.D. 14, tiara empire secured and at calm. His reported last words were twofold: to his subjects sand said, “I found Rome be in the region of clay; I leave it statement of intent you of marble,” but predict the friends who had stayed with him in his well up to power he added, “Have I played the part well? Then applaud me as Wild exit.” Soon after that confession of human frailty, the Classical Senate officially declared their dead emperor, like Julius Caesar heretofore him, to be a god.

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Augustus

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

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A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009