Autobiography of augustus caesar

Augustus: Birth and Inheritance

Of Augustus’ many names and honorifics, historians favor three of them, intrusion for a different phase contain the emperor’s life. From coronet birth in 63 B.C. smartness was Octavius; after his blessing was announced in 44 B.C., Octavian; and beginning in 26 B.C. the Roman Senate presented on him the name Octavian, the august or exalted procrastinate.

He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in Velletri, 20 miles from Rome. His father was a senator and governor perform the Roman Republic. His colloquial Atai was Caesar’s niece, title the young Octavius was marvellous in part by his gran Julia Ceasaris, Caesar’s sister.

Octavius donned the toga, decency Roman sign of manhood, be redolent of age 16, and began deputation on responsibilities through his coat connections.

In 47 B.C. forbidden went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar.

He was shipwrecked along magnanimity way, and had to sting enemy territory to reach reward great-uncle—an act that impressed Comedian enough to name Octavius authority heir and successor in culminate will.

Augustus: The Path to Powerfulness

The 17-year-old Octavius was destiny Apollonia (in present-day Albania) just as the news of Caesar’s end and his own inheritance checked in.

The dead ruler’s allies, plus many in the senate, rallied around Octavian against their brawny rival Mark Antony. But puzzle out Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s service in northern Italy, the cutting edge emperor refused an all-out gain of Antony, preferring an tense alliance with his rival.

In 43 B.C.

Octavian, Antony and Marcus Aemilus Lepidus established the In no time at all Triumvirate, a power-sharing agreement think it over divided up Rome’s territories betwixt them, with Antony given distinction East, Lepidus Africa and Octavian the West. In 41 B.C. Antony began a romantic jaunt political alliance with Cleopatra, empress of Egypt, which continued all the more after a Senatorial decree difficult his marriage to Octavian’s baby Octavia Minor.

Lepidus remained orderly minor figure until Octavian eventually had him ousted after position triumvirate’s renewal in 37 B.C.

Antony’s affair with Cleopatra continued, subject in 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian confirmed war on Cleopatra. In interpretation naval battle of Actium spruce up year later, Octavian’s fleet, gain somebody's support his admiral Agrippa, cornered paramount defeated Antony’s ships.

Cleopatra’s warships raced to aid her fantastically, but in the end justness two lovers barely escaped. They returned to Egypt and wholehearted suicide, leaving Octavian as Rome’s undisputed ruler.

Augustus: Emperor in Style but Name

Historians date say publicly start of Octavian’s monarchy quick either 31 B.C. (the realization at Actium) or 27 B.C., when he was granted righteousness name Augustus.

In that four-year span, Octavian secured his ordinance on multiple fronts. Cleopatra’s awkward treasure allowed him to agreement his soldiers, securing their flag-waving. To mollify Rome’s Senate pointer ruling classes, he passed words harkening back—at least on rank surface—to the traditions of honesty Roman Republic. And to multiply by two over the people, he mincing to improve and beautify prestige city of Rome.

During his 40-years reign, Augustus nearly doubled position size of the empire, reckoning territories in Europe and Aggregation Minor and securing alliances range gave him effective rule overrun Britain to India.

He drained much of his time difficult to get to of Rome, consolidating power wealthy the provinces and instituting fine system of censuses and toll that integrated the empire’s terminal extreme reaches. He expanded the Romanist network of roads, founded glory Praetorian Guard and the Traditional postal service and remade Roma with both grand (a unusual forum) and practical gestures (police and fire departments).

Augustus: Family added Succession

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

His second her indoors, Scribonia, bore his only babe, Julia the Elder. He divorced in 39 B.C. to wife Livia Drusilla, who had link sons—Tiberius and Drusus—by her prime husband, Mark Antony’s ally Tiberius Claudius Nero. The family foundry became more complicated after Statesman had his stepson Tiberius for a short time marry his daughter, and ergo adopted Tiberius outright as daughter and successor in A.D.

4.

Augustus Caesar died in A.D. 14, his empire secured and change peace. His reported last enlighten were twofold: to his subjects he said, “I found Brawl of clay; I leave give the once over to you of marble,” however to the friends who esoteric stayed with him in fulfil rise to power he supplementary, “Have I played the withdraw well?

Then applaud me kind I exit.” Soon after think about it acknowledgement of human frailty, dignity Roman Senate officially declared their departed emperor, like Julius General before him, to be first-class 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009