Augustus

Augustus
The statue known as the Augustus of Prima Porta, 1st century
1st Emperor of the Roman Empire
Reign	16 January 27 BC – 19 August AD 14 (40 years)
Predecessor	Julius Caesar (as dictator), great-uncle, adoptive father
Successor	Tiberius
Born	Gaius Octavius 23 September 63 BC Rome, Roman Republic
Died	19 August AD 14 (aged 75) Nola, Italia, Roman Empire
Burial	Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome
Spouse	Clodia Pulchra (42–40 BC; divorce) Scribonia (40–38 BC; divorce) Livia Drusilla (37 BC–AD 14; his death)
Full name Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus
House	Julio-Claudian Dynasty
Father	Gaius Octavius Julius Caesar (adoptive)
Mother	Atia Balba Caesonia
Religion	Traditional ancient Roman religion

Augustus (Latin: Imperātor Caesar Dīvī Fīlius Augustus; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August 14 AD) was the founder of the Roman Principate and considered the first Emperor, controlling the Roman Empire from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.

He was born Gaius Octavius into an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the plebeian Octavii family. His maternal great-uncle Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, and Octavius was named in Caesar's will as his adopted son and heir, then known as Octavianus (Anglicized as Octavian). He, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat the assassins of Caesar. Following their victory at Philippi, the Triumvirate divided the Roman Republic among themselves and ruled as military dictators. The Triumvirate was eventually torn apart by the competing ambitions of its members. Lepidus was driven into exile and stripped of his position, and Antony committed suicide following his defeat at the Battle of Actium by Octavian in 31 BC.

After the demise of the Second Triumvirate, Augustus restored the outward façade of the free Republic, with governmental power vested in the Roman Senate, the executive magistrates, and the legislative assemblies. In reality, however, he retained his autocratic power over the Republic as a military dictator. By law, Augustus held a collection of powers granted to him for life by the Senate, including supreme military command, and those of tribune and censor. It took several years for Augustus to develop the framework within which a formally republican state could be led under his sole rule. He rejected monarchical titles, and instead called himself Princeps Civitatis ("First Citizen of the State"). The resulting constitutional framework became known as the Principate, the first phase of the Roman Empire.