Augustus, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian

Augustus, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian (63 BC-14 AD), first Emperor of Rome. Octavian's great-uncle was Julius Caesar* who adopted the boy as his son and heir.

For a time Octavian served in the army under Julius Caesar. Then he went to Appollonia in Illyria (present-day Albania) to study.

When Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC Octavian at once returned to Rome. He fought against Mark Antony* but afterwards he, Mark Antony and Aemilius Lepidus became joint rulers of Rome. When Lepidus retired, Octavian ruled the western part of the Empire and Mark Antony ruled in the east from Alexandria.

After a time, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, began to ignore messages from Rome and Octavian declared war on them.

Antony was defeated in a sea battle at Actium (Greece) in 31 BC and killed himself. This left Octavian, at the age of thirty-three, the sole ruler of Rome. Four years later the chief statesmen of the city gave him the title of princeps (first citizen) and the name of Augustus (meaning 'the exalted'). He had the powers of an emperor.

Augustus brought peace and order to Rome for the first time in a hundred years. He extended the Roman Empire by conquests and improved towns and roads in all parts of it. He also improved the city of Rome.

He was emperor for thirty-one years and died peacefully in his bed. The Romans had already given his name to a month of the year. After his death they worshipped him as a god. In PATRICK PRINGLE 101 Great Lives (Ward Lock 1964)