Augustus Caesar facts
- Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.
- Augustus was born in the city of Rome on 23 September 63 BC.
- It was during his reign as Roman Emperor that Jesus Christ was born.
- Because of the various names he bore, it is common to call him Octavius when referring to events between 63 and 44 BC, Octavian (or Octavianus) when referring to events between 44 and 27 BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC.
- Augustus Caesar, as described by historians, was unusually handsome.
- Octavian, unlike Julius Caesar, was short of stature.
- The title ‘Augustus’ was awarded to him in 27 BCE by the Roman Senate.
- His father, also named Gaius Octavius, had been governor of Macedonia. His mother Atia was the niece of Julius Caesar.
- When Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE, Octavian was only 18 years of age.
- In 43 BC, Octavian joined forces with Mark Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus in a military dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate.
- Octavia, the sister of Octavian, married Mark Anthony.
- By 29 BCE, Octavius is the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
- Augustus enlarged the empire dramatically, annexing Egypt, Dalmatia, Pannonia, and Raetia, expanded possessions in Africa, and completed the conquest of Hispania.
- His reign is known as the ‘Augustan Age’ – the Golden Age of Roman architecture and literature.
- Augustus Caesar died at the age of 75 on August 19, 14 CE and was succeeded by his adopted and stepson, Tiberius.
- The month of August, formerly known as Sextilis in the old Roman calendar, was named in his honor.
- His names Augustus and Caesar were adopted by every subsequent emperor.
- His rule for 45 years initiated an era of relative peace known as the Pax Roman or Roman peace.
- Augustus ordered the execution of hundreds of his enemies. He even ordered the killing of Julius Caesar’s son with Cleopatra – Caesarion.
- On his deathbed, Augustus boasted "I found Rome of bricks; I leave it to you of marble".
