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Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Statue-Augustus.jpg
Reign 16 January 27 BC – 19 August 14 AD
Successor Tiberius
Born 23 September 63 BC (Roman calendar)
Rome, Roman Republic
Died 19 August 14 AD (Julian calendar) (aged 75)
Nola, Italy, Roman Empire
Burial Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome
Spouse
  • Clodia Pulchra (43 – 40 BC)
  • Scribonia (40 – 38 BC)
  • Livia Drusilla (38 BC – 14 AD)
Issue Julia the Elder;
Gaius Caesar (adoptive);
Lucius Caesar (adoptive);
Tiberius (adoptive)
Full name
Gaius Octavius Thurinus (from birth to adoption by Julius Caesar in 44 BC);
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (from 44 to 27 BC);
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (from 27 BC until death in 14 AD)
Imperial Dynasty Julio-Claudian
Father Natural: Gaius Octavius;
Adoptive: Julius Caesar (in 44 BC)
Mother Atia Balba Caesonia
Rmn-social-header-1-.svg
These articles cover Ancient Rome and the fall of the Republic
Roman Republic, First Triumvirate, Assassination of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra VII, Pompey, Cicero, Second Triumvirate

Augustus (born Gaius Octavius, later known as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus) was the first and one of the most important Roman Emperors. He lived from 63 BC to 14 AD. Augustus helped Rome change from a Republic (where people voted for leaders) into a powerful Roman Empire (ruled by an emperor).

Early Life of Augustus

Augustus was born in Rome. His birth name was Gaius Octavius Thurinus. His father, also named Gaius Octavius, came from a respected family. He was a governor in Macedonia before he passed away in 58 BC.

Augustus's mother, Atia, was the niece of Julius Caesar. Caesar was Rome's greatest general and its real ruler. In 46 BC, Caesar had no legal children. He took his grand-nephew, Octavius, to be a soldier in Hispania (modern-day Spain). Caesar later adopted Octavius in his will as his heir.

After being adopted, Octavius took the name C. Julius Caesar Octavianus. People often called him "Octavian." When Caesar was killed in March 44 BC, Octavian was only eighteen years old. He was with the army in Apollonia, which is now in Albania.

Augustus's Reign as Emperor

Roman - Portrait of Emperor Augustus - Walters 2321
Portraits of Augustus often showed him with perfect features.

Augustus became emperor through cleverness and skill. He then ruled with great wisdom. He gave Rome 40 years of peace and growing wealth. This time is known as the Pax Romana, or "Roman Peace."

Changes to the Military

Augustus created Rome's first permanent army and navy. He placed the legions (large army units) along the Empire's borders. This stopped them from getting involved in politics. A special group called the Praetorian Guard stayed in Rome. Their job was to protect the Emperor.

Financial and Social Reforms

Augustus also improved Rome's money and tax systems. He did not start any major wars. He used the huge wealth from the Empire to pay the army well. This kept the soldiers happy. He also kept the Roman people happy by making the capital city beautiful. He put on amazing games for them to enjoy.

Augustus strongly supported the worship of Roman gods, especially Apollo. He showed Rome's victory over Egypt as Roman gods defeating Egypt's gods. He also supported the poet Vergil's famous work, the Aeneid. He hoped it would make Romans proud of their history. Augustus also tried to improve public morals. He encouraged marriage, family, and having children. He tried to stop people from living too luxuriously, but this was mostly unsuccessful.

Arts and Culture

Augustus was a big supporter of the arts. He helped poets, artists, sculptors, and architects. His time as emperor is seen as the Golden Age of Roman literature.

Augustus's Lasting Impact

Hw-augustus
A drawing of Emperor Caesar Augustus.

Augustus was declared a god soon after he died. His adopted name, Caesar, and his title, Augustus, became the names for future Roman rulers. These titles were used for 400 years in Rome. They were even used in Constantinople for 14 centuries after his death. The words "Kaiser" and "Tsar" (used by later emperors) also came from his name.

Many people think Augustus was Rome's greatest emperor. His choices certainly made the empire last longer. They also started the famous "Pax Romana" or "Pax Augusta." He was smart, decisive, and a very clever politician. He might not have been as charming as Julius Caesar or Mark Antony. Because of this, he is sometimes confused with Julius Caesar. However, his impact on history has been more lasting.

Augustus created "Italia" (Roman Italy) in 7 BC. This was the first time the Italian peninsula was united under one name and government. For this, Italian historians called Augustus the Father of Italy. The month of August is named after him. Before his time, it was called Sextilis.

Augustus's long rule was a key reason for his success. His greatest legacy was the peace and wealth the Roman Empire enjoyed for the next two centuries. This was all thanks to the system he put in place.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Augusto para niños

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