Augustus

Lived From 63 BCE to 14 CE

Augustus was the first Roman emperor. Originally called Octavian, he is known today by the title Augustus, which was given him by the Senate in the year 27 B.C.E. reigning from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. Octavian was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar and was following a military career when Caesar was murdered. Upon learning of Ceasar's assasination Octavian entered into a series of alliances meant to avenge his great-uncle's assassins. After his alliance with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Marc Antony (called The Triumvirate) defeated the assasins they split the Roman world between themselves.  Lepidus took control of the African provinces, Marc Antony  took Egypt and the eastern provinces and Octavian the rest including Rome itself.  

Subject ID: 123397

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Lived From 63 BCE to 14 CE

Augustus was the first Roman emperor. Originally called Octavian, he is known today by the title Augustus, which was given him by the Senate in the year 27 B.C.E. reigning from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. Octavian was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar and was following a military career when Caesar was murdered. Upon learning of Ceasar's assasination Octavian entered into a series of alliances meant to avenge his great-uncle's assassins. After his alliance with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Marc Antony (called The Triumvirate) defeated the assasins they split the Roman world between themselves.  Lepidus took control of the African provinces, Marc Antony  took Egypt and the eastern provinces and Octavian the rest including Rome itself.  

The triumverate didn't last very long as the three partners started to argue and plot against each other.  Octavian consolidated his hold on his territories, stripped Lepidus of his powers and then turned to fight Marc Antony.   Marc Antony, along with his ally and wife, Cleopatra, were finally defeated in 30 BCE leaving Octavian the sole ruler of Rome.

Octavian, soon to be renamed Augustus, slowly embarked on many reforms that turned what had been the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.  He reformed the coinage and the military, and embarked on a huge building program all across the empire. His reforms touched almost every aspect of the Empire. 

After reigne for about 41 years, he died in 14 CE was succeeded by his stepson Tiberius. The Triumvirate as it was called was unstable and they each began to plot against the other. Within a few years however Lepidus would be stripped of his powers and Marc Antony would be defeated in a major battle. Antony and his wife Cleopatra then committed suicide leaving Octavian as sole emperor. Octavian then became known and referred to by his title and went on to rule the Roman Empire for another 40 years. He did this while cooperating with the Senate and to him Romans owed much of the grandeur and influence that this empire became known for.

Subject ID: 123397

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