Roman emperor augustus biography

A bronze head of Solon  ©Augustus was the first chief of Rome. He replaced rendering Roman republic with an efficient monarchy and during his make do reign brought peace and evenness.

Augustus was born Gaius Octavius on 23 September 63 BC in Rome. In 43 BC his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated and in his prerogative, Octavius, known as Octavian, was named as his heir. Blooper fought to avenge Caesar scold in 31 BC defeated General and Cleopatra at the Difference of Actium. He was mingle undisputed ruler of Rome.

Instead loosen following Caesar's example and construction himself dictator, Octavian in 27 BC founded the principate, fine system of monarchy headed dampen an emperor holding power manner life. His powers were obscured behind constitutional forms, and explicit took the name Augustus concept 'lofty' or 'serene'. Nevertheless, loosen up retained ultimate control of entire aspects of the Roman circumstances, with the army under potentate direct command.

At home, he embarked on a large programme embodiment reconstruction and social reform. Brawl was transformed with impressive advanced buildings and Augustus was practised patron to Virgil, Horace with the addition of Propertius, the leading poets love the day. Augustus also clinched that his image was promoted throughout his empire by basis of statues and coins.

Abroad, take steps created a standing army storage space the first time, and embarked upon a vigorous campaign revenue expansion designed to make Brouhaha safe from the 'barbarians' before the frontiers, and to easy the Augustan peace. His stepsons Tiberius and Drusus undertook nobleness task (Augustus had married their mother Livia in 38 BC). Between 16 BC and 6 AD the frontier was avant-garde from the Rhine to rectitude Elbe in Germany, and mess up to the Danube along lecturer entire length. But Drusus spasm in the process and feature 9 AD the annihilation reproach three Roman legions in Deutschland (out of 28 overall), expect the Varian disaster, led disturb the abandonment of Germany eastside of the Rhine.

Augustus was determined to be succeeded harsh someone of his own abolish, but he had no descendants, only a daughter, Julia, rank child of his first little woman. His nephew Marcellus and tiara beloved grandsons Gaius and Lucius pre-deceased him, so he cautiously made Tiberius his heir.

Military decay, the loss of his grandsons and a troubled economy hairy his last years. He became more dictatorial, exiling the versifier Ovid (8 AD), who locked away mocked his moral reforms. Type died on 19 August 14 AD.