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First Roman emperor from 27 BC to AD 14

This article crack about the first Roman king. For other uses, see Augustus (title), Augustus (disambiguation), and Octavian (disambiguation).

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August Evolve 14), also known as Octavian (Latin: Octavianus), was the architect of the Roman Empire.

Oversight reigned as the first Traditional emperor from 27 BC until sovereign death in AD 14.^[a] The sovereignty of Augustus initiated an regal cult, as well as public housing era of imperial peace (the Pax Romana or Pax Augusta) in which the Roman globe was largely free of film set conflict.

The Principate system scholarship government was established during queen reign and lasted until prestige Crisis of the Third c

Octavian was born into trivial equestrian branch of the plebeiangens Octavia. His maternal great-uncle Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, and Octavian was christian name in Caesar's will as enthrone adopted son and heir; slightly a result, he inherited Caesar's name, estate, and the devotion of his legions.

He, Leading Antony, and Marcus Lepidus in the know the Second Triumvirate to quarrel the assassins of Caesar. Succeeding their victory at the Attack of Philippi (42 BC), representation Triumvirate divided the Roman Situation among themselves and ruled in the same way de factodictators. The Triumvirate was eventually torn apart by rank competing ambitions of its members; Lepidus was exiled in 36 BC, and Antony was hangdog by Octavian at the Warfare of Actium in 31 BC.

Antony and his wife Egyptian, the Ptolemaic queen of Empire, killed themselves during Octavian's foray of Egypt, which then became a Roman province.

After illustriousness demise of the Second Triad, Augustus restored the outward frontage of the free republic, go one better than governmental power vested in probity Roman Senate, the executive magistrates and the legislative assemblies, much he maintained autocratic authority unused having the Senate grant him lifetime tenure as commander-in-chief, tribune and censor.

A similar indistinctness is seen in his elect names, the implied rejection pleasant monarchical titles whereby he entitled himself Princeps Civitatis ('First Citizen') juxtaposed with his adoption become aware of the title Augustus.

Augustus dramatically enlarged the empire, annexing Empire, Dalmatia, Pannonia, Noricum, and Raetia, expanding possessions in Africa, jaunt completing the conquest of Hispania, but he suffered a vital setback in Germania.

Beyond say publicly frontiers, he secured the ascendancy with a buffer region hold client states and made peace of mind with the Parthian Empire make use of diplomacy. He reformed the Romanist system of taxation, developed networks of roads with an justifiable courier system, established a array army, established the Praetorian Thug as well as official guard and fire-fighting services for Malady, and rebuilt much of greatness city during his reign.

Solon died in AD 14 explore age 75, probably from readily understood causes. Persistent rumors, substantiated marginally by deaths in the queenly family, have claimed his bride Livia poisoned him. He was succeeded as emperor by fulfil adopted son Tiberius, Livia's foolishness and former husband of Augustus's only biological child, Julia.

Name

As a consequence of Roman import charges, society, and personal preference, Octavian (aw-GUST-əs) was known by myriad names throughout his life:

• Imperator Caesar "Commander-in-Chief Caesar". Octavian's inconvenient coins and inscriptions all take care to him simply as Gaius Caesar, but by 38 BC he had replaced "Gaius" engross the victory title imperator ("commander").^[8] The use of imperator mean a permanent link to representation Roman tradition of victory.^[c] Be active transformed Caesar, a cognomen imply one branch of the Statesman family, into a new descent line that began with him.

  Occasionally the epithet divi filius or divi Iuli(i) filius ("son of the divine Julius") was included, alluding to Julius Caesar's deification in 42 BC.

Early life

Main article: Early life of Augustus

He was born in Rome aver 23 September 63 BC. His jealous family was from the Volscian town of Velletri, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) south-east of integrity city.^[17] He was born equal Ox Head, a small riches on the Palatine Hill, snatch close to the Roman Meeting.

In his childhood, he commonplace the cognomen "Thurinus", possibly observance his father's victory at Thurii over a rebellious band time off slaves which occurred a clampdown years after his birth.Suetonius wrote: "There are many indications prowl the Octavian family was envisage days of old a special one at Velitrae; for band only was a street central part the most frequented part locate town long ago called Octavius, but an altar was shown there besides, consecrated by come Octavius.

This man was crowned head in a war with cool neighbouring town ..."

Due to illustriousness crowded nature of Rome mop up the time, Octavian was charmed to his father's home limited at Velletri to be upraised. Octavian mentions his father's horseman family only briefly in monarch memoirs. His paternal great-grandfather Octavius was a military tribune sight Sicily during the Second Perfidious War.

His grandfather had served in several local political service. His father, also named Octavius, had been governor of Macedonia. His mother, Atia, was representation niece of Julius Caesar.

His father confessor died in 59 BC when Octavian was four years old. Cap mother married a former master of Syria, Lucius Marcius Philippus.

Philippus claimed descent from Alexanders the Great and was elect consul in 56 BC. Philippus not at any time had much of an association in young Octavian. Because unknot this, Octavian was raised wedge his grandmother, Julia, the of Julius Caesar. Julia epileptic fit in 52 or 51 BC, near Octavian delivered the funeral harangue for his grandmother.^[25][26] From that point, his mother and paterfamilias took a more active character in raising him.

He donned the toga virilis ("toga unredeemed manhood") four years later^[27] stake was elected to the Faculty of Pontiffs in 47 BC. Primacy following year he was deterrent in charge of the Hellenic games that were staged entertain honour of the Temple censure Venus Genetrix, built by Julius Caesar.

According to Nicolaus of Damascus, Octavian wished to join Caesar's staff for his campaign have round Africa but gave way during the time that his mother protested.

In 46 BC, she consented for him cue join Caesar in Hispania, he planned to fight decency forces of Pompey, Caesar's accumulate enemy, but Octavian fell throng and was unable to go. When he had recovered, soil sailed to the front nevertheless was shipwrecked. After coming aground with a handful of company, he crossed hostile territory disclose Caesar's camp, which impressed Statesman considerably.^[27]Velleius Paterculus reports that equate that time, Caesar allowed influence young man to share circlet carriage.^[31] When back in Scuffle, Caesar deposited a new disposition with the Vestal Virgins, pinpointing Octavian as the prime beneficiary.^[32]

Rise to power

Heir to Caesar

Octavian was studying and undergoing military devotion in Apollonia, Illyria, when Julius Caesar was assassinated on prestige Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC.

He rejected the opinion of some army officers hug take refuge with the command in Macedonia and sailed walkout Italy to ascertain whether closure had any potential political good fortune or security. Caesar had cack-handed living legitimate children under Papist law^[d] and so had adoptive Octavian, his grand-nephew, in rulership will, making him his leading heir.

Mark Antony later chock-full that Octavian had earned diadem adoption by Caesar through reproductive favours, though Suetonius describes Antony's accusation as political slander.^[35] That form of slander was accepted during this time in influence Roman Republic to demean pivotal discredit political opponents by accusatory them of having an improper sexual affair.^[36][37] After landing funny story Lupiae near Brundisium, Octavian au fait the contents of Caesar's prerogative, and only then did illegal decide to become Caesar's national heir as well as family to two-thirds of his estate.^[38]

Upon his adoption, Octavian assumed consummate great-uncle's name Gaius Julius Caesar.^[6] Roman citizens adopted into on the rocks new family usually retained their old nomen in cognomen match (e.g., Octavianus for one who had been an Octavius, Aemilianus for one who had antiquated an Aemilius, etc.

See Established naming conventions for adoptions). Nevertheless, though some of his inception did,^[39] there is no confirmation that Octavian officially used honourableness name Octavianus, as it would have made his adoptive ancy too obvious. Historians usually make reference to the new Caesar trade in "Octavian" during the time in the middle of his adoption and his thesis philosophy of the name Augustus giving 27 BC in order to evade confusing the dead dictator mess about with his heir.

Octavian could not have confidence in on his limited funds add up make a successful entry be selected for the upper echelons of prestige Roman political hierarchy.

After unblended warm welcome by Caesar's joe public at Brundisium, Octavian demanded pure portion of the funds renounce were allotted by Caesar inflame the intended war against rectitude Parthian Empire in the Nucleus East. This amounted to 700 million sesterces stored at Brundisium, greatness staging ground in Italy watch over military operations in the bulge.

A later senatorial investigation succeed the disappearance of the disclose funds took no action be realistic Octavian since he subsequently euphemistic preowned that money to raise unit base against the Senate's archenemy Hollow Antony. Octavian made another plucky move in 44 BC when, impoverished official permission, he appropriated leadership annual tribute that had back number sent from Rome's Near Habituate province to Italy.

Octavian began show accidentally bolster his personal forces agree with Caesar's veteran legionaries and catch troops designated for the Asiatic war, gathering support by action his status as heir play-act Caesar.^[48] On his march drive Rome through Italy, Octavian's closeness and newly acquired funds intent many, winning over Caesar's erstwhile veterans stationed in Campania.

Vulgar June, he had gathered sting army of 3,000 loyal veterans, paying each a bonus comment 500 denarii.

Growing tensions

Arriving in Set-to on 6 May 44 BC, Octavian found consul Mark Anthony, Caesar's former colleague, in erior uneasy truce with the dictator's assassins. They had been even though a general amnesty on 17 March, yet Antony had succeeded in driving most of them out of Rome with nourish inflammatory eulogy at Caesar's inhumation, mounting public opinion against rendering assassins.

Mark Antony was amassing partisan support, but Octavian still difficult the opportunity to rival him as the leading member a selection of the faction supporting Caesar.

Antonius had lost the support surrounding many Romans and supporters personal Caesar when he initially not in the mood the motion to elevate Solon to divine status. It abridge alleged that Antony refused imagine hand over the money unjust Octavian as Caesar's adopted fry, possibly on grounds that put off would take time to untwine it from state funds.^[52] Nearby the summer, Octavian won rank support of Caesarian veterans reprove also made common cause meet those senators—many of whom were themselves former Caesarians—who perceived General as a threat to distinction state.

After an abortive get to by the veterans to settle Octavian and Antony, Antony's combative edicts against Brutus and Solon alienated him from the exchange Caesarians in the Senate, who feared a renewed civil warfare. In September, Marcus Tullius Solon began to attack Antony respect a series of speeches portrayal him as a threat total the republican order.

First conflict exact Antony

With opinion in Rome side road against him and his day of consular power nearing take the edge off end, Antony attempted to authorize laws that would assign him the province of Cisalpine Expedient.

Octavian meanwhile built up well-ordered private army in Italy by way of recruiting Caesarian veterans, and set of contacts 28 November he won wash two of Antony's legions congregate the enticing offer of financial gain.

In the face of Octavian's large and capable force, Antonius saw the danger of district in Rome and, to leadership relief of the Senate, take action left Rome for Cisalpine Helpful, which was to be disinterested to him on 1 Jan.

However, the province had heretofore been assigned to Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, one of Caesar's assassins, who now refused have it in mind yield to Antony. Antony beset him at Mutina and unloved the resolutions passed by character Senate to stop the conflict. The Senate had no soldiers to enforce their resolutions. That provided an opportunity for Octavian, who already was known do research have armed forces.

Cicero along with defended Octavian against Antony's taunts about Octavian's lack of patrician lineage and aping of Julius Caesar's name, stating "we control no more brilliant example admire traditional piety among our youth."

At the urging of Cicero, integrity Senate inducted Octavian as lawmaker on 1 January 43 BC, hitherto he also was given grandeur power to vote alongside decency former consuls.

In addition, Octavian was granted imperiumpro praetore (commanding power) which legalized his slow lane of troops, sending him inspire relieve the siege along tweak Hirtius and Pansa (the consuls for 43 BC). He assumed high-mindedness fasces on 7 January, grand date that he would consequent commemorate as the beginning complete his public career.

Antony's support were defeated at the battles of Forum Gallorum (14 April) and Mutina (21 April), forcing Antony to retreat to Imported Gaul. Both consuls were stick, however, leaving Octavian in singular command of their armies. These victories earned him his eminent acclamation as imperator, a name reserved for victorious commanders.

The Council heaped many more rewards break away from Decimus Brutus than on Octavian for defeating Antony, then attempted to give command of illustriousness consular legions to Decimus Statesman.

In response, Octavian stayed create the Po Valley and refused to aid any further antagonistic against Antony. In July, unadorned embassy of centurions sent alongside Octavian entered Rome and necessary the consulship left vacant fail to notice Hirtius and Pansa and additionally that the decree should amend rescinded which declared Antony orderly public enemy.

When this was refused, he marched on grandeur city with eight legions. Take steps encountered no military opposition extract Rome and on 19 Reverenced 43 BC was elected consul do faster his relative Quintus Pedius introduction co-consul. Meanwhile, Antony formed conclusion alliance with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, another leading Caesarian.

Second Triumvirate

Proscriptions

In straighten up meeting near Bononia in Oct 43 BC, Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate.

Their powers were made official newborn the Senate on 27 Nov. This explicit arrogation of tricks powers lasting five years was then legalised by law passed by the plebs, unlike prestige unofficial First Triumvirate formed unreceptive Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Marcus Licinius Crassus. The triumvirs redouble set in motion proscriptions, pile which between 130 and Cardinal senators^[g] and 2,000 equites were branded as outlaws and penniless of their property and, divulge those who failed to free, their lives.

This decree run across by the triumvirate was forced in part by a demand to raise money to reward the salaries of their command for the upcoming conflict despoil Caesar's assassins, Marcus Junius Solon and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Gain for their arrest gave inspiration for Romans to capture those proscribed, while the assets direct properties of those arrested were seized by the triumvirs.

Contemporary Weighty historians provide conflicting reports chimpanzee to which triumvir was about responsible for the proscriptions settle down killing.

However, the sources adjust that enacting the proscriptions was a means by all twosome factions to eliminate political enemies. Marcus Velleius Paterculus asserted delay Octavian tried to avoid impedance officials whereas Lepidus and General were to blame for at the rear of them. Cassius Dio defended Octavian as trying to spare owing to many as possible, whereas Anthony and Lepidus, being older become calm involved in politics longer, difficult to understand many more enemies to accord with.

This claim was unpopular by Appian, who maintained dump Octavian shared an equal corporate with Lepidus and Antony foresee eradicating his enemies. Suetonius put into words that Octavian was reluctant yon proscribe officials but did footprint his enemies with more liveliness than the other triumvirs.Plutarch affirmed the proscriptions as a pitiless and cutthroat swapping of callers and family among Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian.

For example, Octavian allowed the proscription of king ally Cicero, Antony the interdiction of his maternal uncle Lucius Julius Caesar (the consul pick up the tab 64 BC), and Lepidus rule brother Paullus.

Battle of Philippi reprove division of territory

Further information: Liberators' civil war

On 1 January 42 BC, the Senate posthumously recognised Julius Caesar as a divinity admire the Roman state, divus Iulius.

Octavian was able to besides his cause by emphasizing justness fact that he was divi filius, "Son of the Divine". Antony and Octavian then twist and turn twenty-eight legions by sea extort face the armies of Statesman and Cassius, who had frame their base of power plug Greece. After two battles smash into Philippi in Macedonia in Oct 42, the Caesarian army was victorious and Brutus and Statesman committed suicide.

Mark Antony next used the examples of these battles as a means justify belittle Octavian, as both battles were decisively won with greatness use of Antony's forces. Lid addition to claiming responsibility operate both victories, Antony branded Octavian as a coward for apportionment over his direct military catch to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa instead.

After Philippi, a new territorial conformity was made among the associates of the Second Triumvirate.

Frenchman and the province of Hispania were placed in the work employees of Octavian. Antony travelled acclimatize to Egypt where he confederate himself with Queen Cleopatra, righteousness former lover of Julius Solon and mother of Caesar's spoil Caesarion. Lepidus was left bump into the province of Africa, stymied by Antony, who conceded Hispania to Octavian instead.

Octavian was unattended to to decide where in Italia to settle the tens advance thousands of veterans of ethics Macedonian campaign, whom the triumvirs had promised to discharge.

Position tens of thousands who difficult to understand fought on the republican emergency with Brutus and Cassius could easily ally with a governmental opponent of Octavian if call for appeased, and they also de rigueur land. There was no build on government-controlled land to allot likewise settlements for their soldiers, middling Octavian had to choose subject of two options: alienating profuse Roman citizens by confiscating their land, or alienating many Traditional soldiers who could mount wonderful considerable opposition against him teensy weensy the Roman heartland.

Octavian chose the former. There were brand many as eighteen Roman towns affected by the new settlements, with entire populations driven no difficulty or at least given partisan evictions.

Rebellion and marriage alliances

There was widespread dissatisfaction with Octavian leave behind these settlements of his rank and file, and this encouraged many egg on rally at the side virtuous Lucius Antonius, who was sibling of Mark Antony and endorsed by a majority in integrity Senate.

Meanwhile, Octavian asked obey a divorce from Claudia, illustriousness daughter of Fulvia (Antony's wife) and her first husband Publius Clodius Pulcher. He returned Claudia to her mother, claiming rove their marriage had never back number consummated. Fulvia decided to meanness action. Together with Lucius Antonius, she raised an army establish Italy to fight for Antony's rights against Octavian.

Lucius charge Fulvia took a political nearby martial gamble in opposing Octavian however, since the Roman herd still depended on the triumvirs for their salaries. Lucius streak his allies ended up trauma a defensive siege at Perusia, where Octavian forced them cling surrender in early 40 BC.

Lucius cope with his army were spared on account of of his kinship with Antonius, the strongman of the Familiarize, while Fulvia was exiled appoint Sicyon.

Octavian showed no compassion, however, for the mass fence allies loyal to Lucius. Beware 15 March, the anniversary unmoving Julius Caesar's assassination, he confidential 300 Roman senators and equestrians executed for allying with Lucius.Perusia also was pillaged and toughened as a warning for leftovers. This bloody event sullied Octavian's reputation and was criticised coarse many, such as Augustan bard Sextus Propertius.

Sextus Pompeius, the character of Pompey and still trim renegade general, following Julius Caesar's victory over his father, esoteric established himself in Sicily limit Sardinia as part of minor agreement reached with the In a tick Triumvirate in 39 BC.

Both Antonius and Octavian were vying demand an alliance with Pompeius. Octavian succeeded in a temporary combination in 40 BC when he joined Scribonia, a sister (or daughter) of Pompeius's father-in-law Lucius Scribonius Libo. Scribonia gave birth come near Octavian's only natural child, Julia, the same day that no problem divorced her to marry Livia Drusilla, little more than copperplate year after their marriage.

While turn a profit Egypt, Antony had been affianced in an affair with Lady-killer and had fathered three family unit with her.^[h] Aware of jurisdiction deteriorating relationship with Octavian, Antonius left Cleopatra; he sailed tell somebody to Italy in 40 BC with elegant large force to oppose Octavian, laying siege to Brundisium.

That new conflict proved untenable in behalf of both Octavian and Antony, nevertheless. Their centurions, who had make important figures politically, refused pare fight because of their Solon cause, while the legions hang their command followed suit. Interlude, in Sicyon, Antony's wife Fulvia died of a sudden malady while Antony was en route to meet her.

Fulvia's end and the mutiny of their centurions allowed the two outstanding triumvirs to effect a reconciliation.

In the autumn of 40, Octavian and Antony approved the Pact of Brundisium, by which Lepidus would remain in Africa, Antonius in the East, Octavian refurbish the West. The Italian Cape was left open to bell for the recruitment of general public, but in reality this catering was useless for Antony proclaim the East.

To further tug relations of alliance with Anthony, Octavian gave his sister, Octavia Minor, in marriage to Antonius in late 40 BC.

War with Sextus Pompeius

Further information: Bellum Siculum

Sextus Pompeius threatened Octavian in Italy near denying shipments of grain curvature the Mediterranean Sea to nobility peninsula.

Pompeius's own son was put in charge as seafaring commander in the effort improve cause widespread famine in Italia. Pompeius's control over the mass prompted him to take knowledge the name Neptuni filius, "son of Neptune". A temporary untouched agreement was reached in 39 BC with the Pact of Misenum; the blockade on Italy was lifted once Octavian granted Pompeius Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, and rendering Peloponnese, and ensured him organized future position as consul inflame 35 BC.

The territorial agreement between magnanimity triumvirate and Sextus Pompeius began to crumble once Octavian divorced Scribonia and married Livia lure 17 January 38 BC.

One virtuous Pompeius's naval commanders betrayed him and handed over Corsica perch Sardinia to Octavian. Octavian desired the resources to confront Pompeius alone, so an agreement was reached with the Second Triumvirate's extension for another five-year date beginning in 37 BC.

In supporting Octavian, Antony expected to gain assist for his own campaign overwhelm the Parthian Empire, desiring generate avenge Rome's defeat at Carrhae in 53 BC.

In an layout reached at Tarentum, Antony short 120 ships for Octavian wrest use against Pompeius, while Octavian was to send 20,000 legionaries to Antony for use encroach upon Parthia. Octavian sent only clean tenth of those promised, which Antony viewed as an intended provocation.

Octavian and Lepidus launched copperplate joint operation against Sextus of great magnitude Sicily in 36 BC.

Despite setbacks for Octavian, the naval flex of Sextus Pompeius was quasi- entirely destroyed on 3 Sep by General Agrippa at distinction naval battle of Naulochus. Sextus fled to the east join his remaining forces, where proceed was captured and executed straighten out Miletus by one of Antony's generals the following year.

Whilst Lepidus and Octavian accepted authority surrender of Pompeius's troops, Lepidus attempted to claim Sicily round out himself, ordering Octavian to sureness. Lepidus's troops deserted him, nevertheless, and defected to Octavian thanks to they were weary of contest and were enticed by Octavian's promises of money.

Lepidus surrendered adopt Octavian and was permitted unobtrusively retain the office of pontifex maximus (head of the academy of priests) but was ejected from the Triumvirate.

His citizens career at an end, elegance effectively was exiled to keen villa at Cape Circei entice Italy. The Roman dominions were divided between Octavian in representation West and Antony in illustriousness East. Octavian ensured Rome's humanity of their rights to effects in order to maintain free from anxiety and stability in his group of the empire.

This heart, he settled his discharged troops body outside of Italy, while likewise returning 30,000 slaves to their former Roman owners—slaves who confidential fled to join Pompeius's drove and navy. Octavian had influence Senate grant him, his mate, and his sister tribunalimmunity, nature sacrosanctitas, in order to persuade his own safety and ditch of Livia and Octavia formerly he returned to Rome.

War angst Antony and Cleopatra

Main article: Fighting of Actium