Octavius Augustus becomes the first emperor in 27 BC
Octavius Augustus was born September 23, 63 BC as Gaius Octavius, adopted name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, was from a prosperous family that had long been settled at Velitrae (Velletri), southeast of Rome.
He was the first of the family to become a Roman senator and, being Julius Caesar nephew, quickly climbed to the top of Roman politics.
He fought to avenge his great-uncle Julius Caesar, assassinated in 43 BC, who named him as his heir and in 31 BC defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium becoming the undisputed ruler of Rome.
In 27 BC he suppressed the Republic and established a system of monarchy headed by an Emperor holding power for life: retaining ultimate control of all aspects of the state, with the army under his direct command.
Augustus created a standing army for the first time, and embarked upon a vigorous campaign of expansion designed to make Rome safe from the ‘barbarians‘ beyond the frontiers, and to secure the Augustan peace.
In Rome he started a large programme of reconstruction and social reform along with an impressive transformation of the city with new buildings and public spaces; he also established that his image was promoted throughout his empire by means of statues and coins.
Having no sons, only a daughter, Julia, he reluctantly chose his stepson Tiberius as his heir: his last years of reign were troubled by military defeats and shrinking economy, he died in August 14 AD.
The reign of Octavian Augustus laid the foundations of a regime that lasted for nearly fifteen hundred years, his title “Augustus” became the permanent titles of the rulers of the Roman Empire for fourteen centuries after his death.
Augustus was intelligent, decisive, and a sharp politician: many consider Augustus to be Rome’s greatest emperor; his policies certainly extended the Empire’s life span and initiated the celebrated Pax Romana.
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