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Caesar Augustus ("Octavian")

63 BC - AD 14

Biography

Image courtesy of
Barbara McManus and Vroma

• Officially the first Roman Emperor, ruling from 31 BC to AD 14.
• Born a.d. VIII Kalendas Octobres as Gaius Octavius, son of a senator and nephew of G. Julius Caesar.
• Adopted posthumously by G. Julius Caesar in his will; hereafter used the name of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus.
• Appointed senator and propraetor.
• Elected consul in 43 BC at the age of 19, against the age regulations of the time.
• Formed the Second Triumvirate:
  • Octavian took control of Italy
  • Antony took control of the east
  • Lepidus took control of Spain and Gaul
• 1st wife - Scribonia(divorced); one child, Julia Maior.
• 2nd wife - Livia.
• Sister married to Antony (political marriage).
• In the civil war, the senate supported him against Mark Antony.
• Civil War between forces of Antony and those of Octavian.
• Battle of Actium, 30 BC - Antony, defeated, fled to Egypt and committed suicide.
• Undisputed leader of the Roman world.
• Emphasized republican values - held consulships from 31-23 BC.
• Resigned all honors but retained Egypt as his own estate by virtue of conquest.
• Senate imposed honors, including the cognomen "Augustus."
• Power of imperium declared maius in 19 BC ; constitutional powers increased.
• Died a natural death.
• Succeeded by Tiberius.

Accomplishments

1. reorganized fleet
2. reduced # of legions from 60 to 28
3. created Praetorian guard
4. created police/fire force - urban cohorts
5. established an advisory body
6. revised membership of the senate
7. gradually changed the entire structure of government
8. expanded the borders of the empire
9. lost 3 legions under Varus at Teutonburg Forest Pass, did not expand beyond the Rhine
10. rebuilt Rome into a city of marble
11. Ara Pacis
12. Res Gestae records his achievements

Historia ^