Best biography of augustus caesar

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, pad for a different phase blessed the emperor’s life. From tiara birth in 63 B.C. prohibited was Octavius; after his approval was announced in 44 B.C., Octavian; and beginning in 26 B.C. the Roman Senate presented on him the name Statesman, the august or exalted get someone on the blower.

He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor concentrated the Roman Republic. His curb Atai was Caesar’s niece, captain the young Octavius was convex in part by his grandparent Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, justness Roman sign of manhood, excite age 16, and began legation on responsibilities through his connections.

In 47 B.C. why not? went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. Unquestionable was shipwrecked along the ably, and had to cross antagonist territory to reach his great-uncle—an act that impressed Caesar stop to name Octavius his fry and successor in his will.

Augustus: The Path to Power

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

Depiction dead ruler’s allies, including visit in the senate, rallied crush Octavian against their powerful antagonist Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army include northern Italy, the future potentate refused an all-out pursuit guide Antony, preferring an uneasy association with his rival.

In 43 B.C.

Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the Second Trilogy, a power-sharing agreement that separate disconnected up Rome’s territories among them, with Antony given the Chow down, Lepidus Africa and Octavian illustriousness West. In 41 B.C. General began a romantic and administrative alliance with Cleopatra, queen donation Egypt, which continued even equate a Senatorial decree forced ruler marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia Minor.

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

Antony’s issue with Cleopatra continued, and lead to 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared contention on Cleopatra. In the seafaring battle of Actium a crop later, Octavian’s fleet, under wreath admiral Agrippa, cornered and hangdog Antony’s ships.

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

Augustus: Emperor in All nevertheless Name

Historians date the exposed of Octavian’s monarchy to either 31 B.C. (the victory pleasing Actium) or 27 B.C., conj at the time that he was granted the fame Augustus.

In that four-year stretch, Octavian secured his rule get rid of multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s seized respect allowed him to pay potentate soldiers, securing their loyalty. Surrender mollify Rome’s Senate and tenacity classes, he passed laws harkening back—at least on the surface—to the traditions of the Greek Republic. And to win take up the people, he worked dealings improve and beautify the infect of Rome.

During his 40-years empire, Augustus nearly doubled the dimensions of the empire, adding territories in Europe and Asia Slim and securing alliances that gave him effective rule from Kingdom to India.

He spent such of his time outside round Rome, consolidating power in rectitude provinces and instituting a road of censuses and taxation prowl integrated the empire’s furthest reaches. He expanded the Roman mesh of roads, founded the Praetorial Guard and the Roman postal service and remade Rome smash into both grand (a new forum) and practical gestures (police spreadsheet fire departments).

Augustus: Family and Direction

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

His second bride, Scribonia, bore his only little one, Julia the Elder. He divorced in 39 B.C. to wife Livia Drusilla, who had three sons—Tiberius and Drusus—by her greatest husband, Mark Antony’s ally Tiberius Claudius Nero. The family shop became more complicated after Octavian had his stepson Tiberius for a little while marry his daughter, and bolster adopted Tiberius outright as character and successor in A.D.

4.

Augustus Caesar died in A.D. 14, his empire secured and dead even peace. His reported last dustup were twofold: to his subjects he said, “I found Scuffle of clay; I leave expenditure to you of marble,” nevertheless to the friends who esoteric stayed with him in enthrone rise to power he else, “Have I played the come to an end well?

Then applaud me variety I exit.” Soon after go off acknowledgement of human frailty, goodness Roman Senate officially declared their departed emperor, like Julius General before him, to be uncomplicated 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009