19 August

Born Gaius Octavius 23 September 63 BC, he was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar and named his heir after Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC.

Augustus became the first emperor of Rome 16 January 27 BC, and ruled until his death, a period of 40 years. Despite the bloody start to his reign Augustus’ principate was generally seen as a prosperous and relatively peaceful time for Romans.

Augustus was the consummate politician and had learnt an important lesson from Caesar’s assassination,  as such he was very careful about the way he framed his principate trying to maintain the perception of a still functional constitution and Republican forms.

 

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