Augustus  

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-The [[Roman]] [[emperor]] [[Augustus]], also called [[Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus]] (63 [[BC]] - [[AD]] 14); heir to [[Julius Caesar]].+ 
 +'''Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus''' (born '''Gaius Octavius'''; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as '''Octavian''' (Latin: ''Octavianus''), was the founder of the [[Roman Empire]]; he reigned as the first [[Roman emperor]] from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.{{Efn|The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the [[Roman calendar|Roman Republican]] until 45 BC and the [[Julian calendar]] after 45 BC. Due to departures from [[Julius Caesar]]'s intentions, Augustus finished restoring the Julian calendar in March AD 4 and the correspondence between the proleptic Julian calendar and the calendar observed in Rome is uncertain before 8 BC.{{Sfn|Blackburn|Holford-Strevens|2003|pages=670–671}}}} The reign of Augustus initiated an [[Roman imperial cult|imperial cult]] as well as an era associated with [[Regional hegemony|imperial peace]], the ''[[Pax Romana]]'' or ''[[Ara Pacis|Pax Augusta]]'', in which the Roman world was largely free of armed conflict aside from expansionary wars and the [[Year of the Four Emperors]]. The [[Principate]] system of imperial rule established by Augustus lasted until the [[Crisis of the Third Century]].
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 +Octavian was born into an old and wealthy [[equites|equestrian branch]] of the [[plebeian]] [[Octavia gens|''gens'' Octavia]]. His maternal great-uncle [[Julius Caesar]] was [[assassination of Julius Caesar|assassinated in 44 BC]], and Octavian was named in Caesar's will as his [[Adoption in ancient Rome|adopted]] son and heir; as a result, he inherited Caesar's name, estate, and the loyalty of his legions. He, [[Mark Antony]], and [[Marcus Lepidus]] formed the [[Second Triumvirate]] to defeat the assassins of Caesar. Following their victory at the [[Battle of Philippi]] (42 BC), the Triumvirate divided the [[Roman Republic]] among themselves and ruled as ''de facto'' [[Roman dictator|dictators]]. The Triumvirate was eventually torn apart by the competing ambitions of its members; Lepidus was exiled in 36 BC, and Antony was defeated by Octavian at the [[Battle of Actium]] in 31 BC. Antony and his wife [[Cleopatra]], the [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] queen of [[Ptolemaic Kingdom|Egypt]], [[Death of Cleopatra|killed themselves]] during Octavian's invasion of Egypt, which then became [[Roman Egypt|a Roman province]].
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 +After the demise of the Second Triumvirate, Augustus restored the outward facade of the free republic, with governmental power vested in the [[Roman Senate]], the [[Roman magistrate|executive magistrates]] and the [[Roman assemblies|legislative assemblies]], yet he maintained autocratic authority by having the Senate grant him lifetime tenure as [[commander-in-chief]], [[tribune]] and [[Roman censor|censor]]. A similar ambiguity is seen in his chosen names, the implied rejection of monarchical titles whereby he called himself ''[[Princeps]] Civitatis'' (First Citizen) juxtaposed with his adoption of the title [[Augustus (title)|Augustus]].
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 +Augustus dramatically enlarged the empire, annexing Egypt, [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]], [[Pannonia]], [[Noricum]], and [[Raetia]], expanding possessions in [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]], and completing the conquest of [[Hispania]], but he suffered [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest|a major setback]] in [[Germania]]. Beyond the frontiers, he secured the empire with a buffer region of [[client state]]s and made peace with the [[Parthian Empire]] through diplomacy. He reformed the Roman system of taxation, developed [[Roman roads|networks of roads]] with an [[cursus publicus|official courier system]], established a [[standing army]], established the [[Praetorian Guard]] as well as official [[cohortes urbanae|police]] and [[vigiles|fire-fighting services]] for Rome, and rebuilt much of the city during his reign. Augustus died in AD 14 at age 75, probably from natural causes. Persistent rumors, substantiated somewhat by deaths in the imperial family, have claimed his wife [[Livia]] poisoned him. He was succeeded as emperor by his adopted son [[Tiberius]], Livia's son and former husband of Augustus' only biological child [[Julia the Elder|Julia]].
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==See also== ==See also==

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Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (Latin: Octavianus), was the founder of the Roman Empire; he reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.Template:Efn The reign of Augustus initiated an imperial cult as well as an era associated with imperial peace, the Pax Romana or Pax Augusta, in which the Roman world was largely free of armed conflict aside from expansionary wars and the Year of the Four Emperors. The Principate system of imperial rule established by Augustus lasted until the Crisis of the Third Century.

Octavian was born into an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the plebeian gens Octavia. His maternal great-uncle Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, and Octavian was named in Caesar's will as his adopted son and heir; as a result, he inherited Caesar's name, estate, and the loyalty of his legions. He, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat the assassins of Caesar. Following their victory at the Battle of Philippi (42 BC), the Triumvirate divided the Roman Republic among themselves and ruled as de facto dictators. The Triumvirate was eventually torn apart by the competing ambitions of its members; Lepidus was exiled in 36 BC, and Antony was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Antony and his wife Cleopatra, the Ptolemaic queen of Egypt, killed themselves during Octavian's invasion of Egypt, which then became a Roman province.

After the demise of the Second Triumvirate, Augustus restored the outward facade of the free republic, with governmental power vested in the Roman Senate, the executive magistrates and the legislative assemblies, yet he maintained autocratic authority by having the Senate grant him lifetime tenure as commander-in-chief, tribune and censor. A similar ambiguity is seen in his chosen names, the implied rejection of monarchical titles whereby he called himself Princeps Civitatis (First Citizen) juxtaposed with his adoption of the title Augustus.

Augustus dramatically enlarged the empire, annexing Egypt, Dalmatia, Pannonia, Noricum, and Raetia, expanding possessions in Africa, and completing the conquest of Hispania, but he suffered a major setback in Germania. Beyond the frontiers, he secured the empire with a buffer region of client states and made peace with the Parthian Empire through diplomacy. He reformed the Roman system of taxation, developed networks of roads with an official courier system, established a standing army, established the Praetorian Guard as well as official police and fire-fighting services for Rome, and rebuilt much of the city during his reign. Augustus died in AD 14 at age 75, probably from natural causes. Persistent rumors, substantiated somewhat by deaths in the imperial family, have claimed his wife Livia poisoned him. He was succeeded as emperor by his adopted son Tiberius, Livia's son and former husband of Augustus' only biological child Julia.


See also


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