Octavian enabled the long, nonviolent time of the Pax Romana, (Latin for Roman peace) by changing Rome from a frail, collapsing republican government to a powerful empire. He is known as the first, and one of the greatest, Roman Emperors ever. Octavian was born on September 23, 63 BC, and died in 14 AD. Born with the name Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius Julius Caesar via his will, and then was named Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. This happened in 44 BC when his great uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by a group of conspirators. Additionally, he received the name “Augustus” a term meaning “the revered one” from the Roman Senate in 27 BC. Because of the various names he had, it is common to call him Octavius while referring to the events that between 63 and 44 BC, Octavian when referring to events between 44 and 27 BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC. Octavian is arguably the single most important figure in Roman history. Ever since he was a young boy, he was destined to become the next great leader. For example, Octavian along with his friend Marcus Agrippa went to visit the Sibyl of Cumae (oracle). When the Sibyl saw him, she bowed at his feet and said that he would be the next great leader. He did not believe her at the time, but just a few years later Julius Caesar would be dead and he would have power. Over the course of his long and spectacular career as “Principate,” he put an end to the collapse of the Republic, and established a system that would stand in the Roman government for three centuries.
Octavian was the great nephew of Julius Caesar, and because of this relationship he had strong political connections in Rome. Caesar favored...
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...4 AD, one month away from his 76th birthday. Augustus’s ultimate legacy was the peace and prosperity the empire was to enjoy for the next two centuries under the system he started. Augustus’s patience and his tact all played a part in re-establishing Rome and directing the future of the empire down many lasting paths.
Works Cited
http://www.unrv.com/early-empire/augustus-empire.php
http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus.html
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/augustusbio/a/Augustus.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/26907/emperors/augustus.htm
http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus-index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus
http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95sep/augustus.html
http://www.historyinfilm.com/claudius/overview.htm
http://janusquirinus.org/essays/Augustus1.html
Book source “Augustus and the Greek World” by G.W Bowersox
Octavian, or Caesar Augustus, was an effective ruler, implementing reforms that positively affected virtually all areas of life throughout the Empire. Social, economic, and political tensions that had led to so much violence in earlier years were calmed by Augustus's policies. Corruption and abuses of the people were also given attention by the Emperor. The borders of the Roman Empire grew dramatically under Augustus's rule, adding material wealth and manpower to Rome's already significant resources.
Augustus Caesar was very ambitious leader. He is best known for bringing peace to Rome. Augustus was considered the first great roman emperor, because He didn’t care about wealth and fortune. Augustus cared about the people of Rome. He was a great military leader and was successful in most of his missions. He showed people that being a good ruler requires a lot of hard work and dedication. He was a very generous man. Augustus was greatly admired by the Roman people.
Most notably, two of his generals, Antony and Lepidus, were members of the second triumvirate. Some of his assassins even rose to prominence serving under him, like Decimus Brutus . And of course, Octavian could begin his rise to power because Caesar adopted him posthumously in his will. Even though a dead man could not adopt someone, Gaius Octavius changed his name and became Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, and his position as Caesar 's son was incredibly important for him in the coming civil
After years of fun with his wife lepidus tried to take over octavius’s power in the west. Lepidus wasn't strong enough so octavius forced him into retirement. Octavious launched a campaign with religious publicity because it was about the original gods of order. Octavian changed changed his name to suggest he was commander it was now called emperor. Other than being the emperor he was the master of the roman greco world and he was also father of spain for a while.
On 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated, and his will revealed that Caesar had adopted his great-nephew Octavius as his son, making him the heir to the thrown. This meant that Octavian’s name was to be changed to Gaius Julius Caesar. When Octavian returned to Rome, he found it being led by Mark Antony and Aemilius Lepidus. Octavian failed to convince Marc Antony to hand over Caesar’s assets and documents, however he was recruited into the senate and when Antony left Rome to take command in northern Italy, Octavian made war on Antony who was defeated and fled to Gaul. Now the senate had lost control over Octavian who marched on Rome and forced the senate to accept him as consul. Three months later, he completely cut off the senates’ power.
Gaius Julius Caesar, born 100 B.C.E. in Rome to the impoverished patrician Julian Clan, knew controversy at an early age. Nephew to Populare Gaius Marius, he was earmarked by the Optimate dictator Sulla for prosciption after his refusal to divorce his Populare wife, Cinna. Fleeing Rome, and not returning until after Sulla’s resignation in 78 B.C.E, upon his return he gained a position as a pontificate, an important Roman priesthood. Slowly but surely throughout his lifetime he worked his way up the political ladder, eventually becoming Consul, and finally Dictator Perpeteus – Dictator for life. One of the most influential political and military leaders of all time, Caesar was also a highly intelligent man and an exceptional orator. However, acquiring this absolute power was no mean feat, and Caesar had well equipped himself through previous expeditions with all the resources necessary to gain power in Ancient Rome.
Julius Caesar's reign was an unfavorable and chaotic period for Rome, and after his death, a large portion of the empire was handed down to his adopted son, Gaius Octavian. From the ashes of his father, Octavian was able to build an Empire unparalleled. Later, the name Augustus was given to him by Senate. Augustus ostensibly maintained the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality creating the Roman Empire. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to the Pax Romana with its flourishing of trade and the arts. Although Augustus's ascension to power could have not been without it bequested by Julius, it was his use of art and propaganda that reinforced the legitimacy his position.
Octavian was a man larger than life. He was a multifaceted man destined to lead from an early age. The most difficult part about studying this man is accepting that he can 't be fully understood. He was complex, and it is often tricky to discern the exact motivations behind his actions. His leadership style was clever and fresh and was integral in the reshaping of Rome to his liking. This method of leadership was unquestionably intertwined with who he was as a person. While his persona, how he interacted with and was seen by his people, underwent transitional periods, his personality remained constant. The path that lead him to be Rome 's first emperor was rough and not without errors, but through it all, he upheld
Octavian was too ambitious to withdraw, and so claimed to escort the senate and the people of Rome to a liberated and peaceful empire, upholding the traditions that Rome stood for, and shrewdly responding to public judgment.
In the early first century AD, the Roman Empire was subject to autocratic rule and the old Republic was long dead. Augustus had been ruling for forty years and most of that time he was loved and praised by the Senate and the people of Rome. Throughout his reign, Augustus had the one lingering problem of finding a successor to take over the role of Emperor. He had chosen 3 different heirs in his time of rule; however, they all passed before they had the chance to inherit Augustus’ esteemed power. His fourth choice, Tiberius, was the one to succeed Augustus. He was often referred to, by Augustus, as an outstanding general and the only one capable of defending Rome against her enemies. The statement, ‘Tiberius is condemned by many ancient historians (including Tacitus), and his reign is often portrayed as being detrimental to the welfare of the Roman Empire’ is invalid as he treated the senate fairly, created strong economics and security in the state and boosted the empire into an unprecedented state of prosperity. This hypothesis will be proven through this essay by analyzing factors such as Tiberius’ administration of the Empire, his relationship with the senate, his financial control, the effect of Sejanus over his rule and why were his last years as Emperor referred to as a ‘reign of terror’ by Tacitus.
Octavius was the first emperor of Rome and was born in 63 B.C. He was originally born in Rome but raised in his parents’ hometown Vilitrae. He was born a plebian but later gained his patrician status when his great uncle, Julius Caesar adopted him. His father died when he was four years old, so his mother married a former governor of Syria. The stepfather didn’t care much for Augustus so he was taken care of by his grandmother and Julia Caesaris.
In 27 BC, Augustus became the first emperor of Rome, thus creating a strong leader figure, which could shape and mold the Republic system into what was best for the empire or themselves. During the reign of the emperors, the political policies for Rome would vary according to, which emperor was in power. Not only were politics shaky, but also there never was a clear-cut method of succession for the man who controlled those politics. Rome had created the position of emperor in hopes that men like Augustus would continue to lead her into prosperity, however the office of emperor struggled in attempting to find great men to lead Rome. The office never truly evolved into something greater than when it had been created, but rather the office varied according to the personality of the man in the position.
Forsyth, Fiona. The First Emperor: Augustus. New York: Rosen Central, 2003. Print. Leaders of Ancient Rome.
Augustus, nephew of Julius Caesar, was the first Emperor of the Roman Empire and transitioned from the Republic to the Empire. Although Augustus had his name changed or modified several times through out his lifespan, the most recognized names are his birth given name, Gaius Octavius, and final nam...
From the very beginning of his life, Marcus Aurelius Antonion Augustus was destine to become one of the worlds most remarkable men. Born into an advantageous environment—blood, education, status—Marcus had all the opportunities to succeed. Marcus’s family had been very involved with helping the empire. His grandfather M. Annius Verus, served as the presiding perfect or mayor three times, his father Annius Verus, was praetor of the city, and mother Domitia Lucilla, was a consul’s daughter and heiress to fortune and was also a scholar in both Greek and Latin literature. Coming from a family with high ideals, it is not odd to see how he was able to revive Rome’s vision of doing what one should consider right.