Augustus, (Gaius Julius Caesar) Octavianus 63BC-14AD
The first Roman emperor

Augustus was the son of the senator and praetor Gaius Octavius, and Atia, Julius Caesar's niece. Originally known as Gaius Octavius, he became Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus through adoption by Caesar in his will (44BC), and later received the name Augustus ('sacred', 'venerable') in recognition of his services and position (27). At the time of Caesar's assassination (March 44), Augustus was a student at Apollonia in Illyricum, but he returned at once to Italy to claim his inheritance. Mark Antony refused at first to surrender Caesar's property, but Augustus outmanoeuvred him in the campaign of Mutina, gained the consulship and carried out Caesar's will (43). When Antony returned from Gaul with Lepidus, Augustus joined them in forming a triumvirate. He received Africa, Sardinia and Sicily; Antony received Gaul; and Lepidus received Spain. Their power was soon made absolute by their reign of terror in Italy, and by their victory at Philippi over the republicans under Brutus and Cassius (42).

Difficulties between Augustus and Antony caused by Antony's wife Fulvia were removed by Fulvia's death and by Antony's marriage with Octavia, sister of Augustus. The Roman world was divided again, Augustus taking the western half and Antony the eastern, while Lepidus had to be content with Africa. Augustus gradually built up his position in Italy and the West, ingratiating himself with the Roman people and misrepresenting the actions of Antony in the East. War was declared against Cleopatra, whom Antony had joined in 37, and after his naval victory at Actium (31) Augustus became the sole ruler of the Roman world. Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

In 29, after settling affairs in Egypt, Greece and the East, Augustus returned to Rome in triumph, and proclaimed universal peace. Augustus was now in all but name the sole ruler of the Roman Empire, although his rule had tobe based on republican forms; this was achieved by means of several settlements (in 27, 23 and 19BC).

At home and abroad the declared policy of Augustus was one of national revival and restoration of traditional Roman values. He legislated to mould the fabric of Roman society, and beautified the city of Rome; it was his proud boast that 'he had found the city built of brick, and left it built of marble'. Abroad, he pursued a policy of calculated imperial conquest, and considerably extended the territory of the Roman Empire in central and northern Europe, although his policy had to be brought to a halt when disaster struck in his later years, with the revolt of Pannonia (AD6) and the loss of three entire legions in Germany under Varus (AD9).

His domestic life was clouded with setbacks and disasters, although he eventually achieved an acceptable succession with his stepson Tiberius, whom he adopted in AD4.

A statesman of exceptional skill, Augustus brought about the difficult transition from republic to empire and provided the Roman world with effective institutions and a lasting period of peace.

Bibliography: Augustus' Autobiography is lost, but a record of his public achievements, the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, written by himself and originally inscribed on bronze pillars in front of his Mausoleum in Rome, survives in several copies in Greek and Latin from Asia Minor.

The Augustan Age was a period of great cultural achievement, especially in literature through the patronage of Maecenas and the work of Horace, Virgil, Ovid, Propertius, Tibullus and Livy.