Name: _________________________
Octavian Augustus
Overview
Caesar Augustus, also known as Octavian, was the first
emperor of Rome. Today he is considered one of the most effective leaders
in human history. Augustus’s reign began an era of relative peace known as
the Pax Romana (Latin for “Roman Peace”), during which the Roman rule
would be free from large-scale conflict for over two centuries.
Early Life
Originally named Gaius Octavianus, Augustus was born in the
city of Rome in 63 BC into a wealthy family. His mother’s uncle was Julius
Caesar. When he was four years old, his father died. His grandmother, who
was Julius Caesar’s sister, raised him.
In 46 BC, Octavian planned to join Julius Caesar in Hispania, where he was fighting Pompey,
but Octavian fell ill before he could travel. When he recovered, he attempted to sail to the front, but was
shipwrecked. Octavian then crossed enemy territory to reach Caesar’s camp, which greatly impressed his
great-uncle. When Caesar returned to Rome, he named Octavian as the prime beneficiary in his will.
The Second Triumvirate
In 44 BC, while Octavian was training in Illyria, Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of
March (March 15). Caesar had no living legitimate children and had adopted Octavian as his heir. Against
the advice of some army officers, Octavian sailed to Italy.
Octavian inherited Julius Caesar’s name and
estate, and the loyalty of his soldiers. Along with two of Julius
Caesar’s most important supporters, Marc Antony and Lepidus,
Octavian formed the Second Triumvirate (the First Triumvirate
was Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus). The Second
Triumvirate was recognized by the Roman Senate for five years
and given the task of hunting down Caesar’s assassins, Brutus
and Cassius.
The assassination of Julius Caesar
After two battles, the Second Triumvirate was victorious. Brutus and Cassius took their own
lives to avoid being captured. Following their victory, the triumvirate divided the rule of Rome amongst
themselves, with Octavian taking Gaul and Hispania, Marc Antony taking Egypt where he allied himself
with Queen Cleopatra, and Lepidus taking the province of Africa.
Eventually, the Second Triumvirate became unstable due to the jealousy and ambitions of
its members. Marc Antony divorced his wife Octavia, who was Octavian’s sister, and married Julius
Caesar’s former lover, Cleopatra, who was queen of Egypt. Antony intended to use the wealth of Egypt to
help him take control of Rome.
In 36 BC, Octavian and Lepidus launched a joint military operation against Sextus Pompeius,
who controlled the island of Sicily and was denying shipments of grain through the Mediterranean Sea to
the Italian Peninsula. After defeating Sextus Pompeius, Lepidus tried to claim Sicily for himself, ordering
Octavian to leave, but most of Lepidus’s troops deserted him when Octavian offered them money. Lepidus
surrendered to Octavian, was ejected from the triumvirate and was exiled, leaving Rome divided between
Octavian and Marc Antony.
The Second Triumvirate (continued)
Soon, a civil war broke out with Octavian on one
side, and Marc Antony and Cleopatra on the other. In 31 BC, under
the command of Agrippa, Octavian’s navy was able to cut off
Antony and Cleopatra from their supply routes at sea, while
Octavian’s forces landed and marched towards them. Trapped,
many of Antony’s soldiers deserted to Octavian’s side. Antony’s
forces made a desperate attempt to break through the naval
blockade in what became known as the Battle of Actium. Octavian’s
forces were victorious, and Antony fled to Egypt, where he and
Cleopatra took their own lives.
The Battle of Actium
Augustus as Ruler
Following the end of the Second Triumvirate, Octavian was in a position to rule Rome by
himself. He sought the support of the senate and the people, while being careful to avoid the appearance
that he wanted to be a king or a dictator.
Rome had been weakened by years of civil war. Octavian worked to bring stability back to
Rome. He returned full power to the Roman Senate, although he retained the loyalty of active and retired
soldiers. In 27 BC, the Senate gave Octavian the title of Augustus, which is Latin for “the illustrious one.”
Octavian Augustus dramatically expanded the empire by completing the conquest of
Hispania, expanding territory in Africa, annexing Egypt, and more.
As ruler, Octavian Augustus established a standing army, developed a network of roads,
reformed the system of taxation, established official police and firefighting services, and rebuilt much of the
city of Rome. Octavian Augustus also established the Praetorian Guard, originally a personal bodyguard unit
that later evolved into an imperial guard and a political force.
Death and Legacy
Octavian Augustus died in AD 14, probably of natural causes. While there were rumors that
his wife Livia poisoned him, historians believe these were probably fabricated by people who favored a
different heir. Octavian had been in poor health for months prior to his death at age 75. He was succeeded
as emperor by his adopted son, Tiberius.
Today, many consider Octavian Augustus to be Rome’s greatest emperor. His rule began the Pax Romana, a
two-hundred-year period in which there was peace, prosperity, and stability.
The month of August is named after Octavian Augustus, possibly because several of the most
significant events in his rise to power occurred in that month.
Both his adopted surname, Caesar, and his title, Augustus, became permanent titles of the
rulers of the Roman Empire for over one thousand years after his death. In some languages Caesar became
the word for Emperor, as in the German Kaiser, and the Russian Tsar (or Czar).
Although Octavian was the most powerful individual in the Roman Empire, he wanted Rome
to have a republican spirit and norms. His greatest legacy may be the peace and prosperity Rome enjoyed
under the system he created.
Question
Why is Octavian considered one of the most effective leaders in human history?
Class: _____________________________________ Name: _____________________________________
Octavian Augustus Knowledge Check
1. ______ Augustus’s reign began an era known as
2. ______ Who was Augustus’s mother’s uncle?
the “Pax Romana,” which is Latin for what?
A. Julius Caesar
A. Roman Conquest
B. Crassus
B. Roman Domination
C. Lucius Junius Brutus
C. Roman Peace
D. Pompey
D. Roman Renaissance
4. ______ Octavian formed the Second Triumvirate
3. ______ When was Julius Caesar assassinated? with which other supporters of Julius Caesar?
A. July 12, 100 BC A. Brutus and Cassius
B. September 23, 63 BC B. Crassus and Pompey
C. March 15, 44 BC C. Marc Antony and Lepidus
D. January 16, 27 BC D. Sextus Pompeius and
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
5. ______ Marc Antony divorced his wife Octavia, 6. ______ Marc Antony’s forces made a desperate
who was Octavian’s sister, and married this queen attempt to break through a naval blockade at this
of Egypt: battle, but were defeated by Octavian’s forces:
A. Cleopatra A. Actium
B. Hatshepsut B. Agrigentum
C. Livia C. Cannae
D. Nefertiti D. Heraclea
7. ______ In 27 BC, the Senate gave Octavian the 8. ______ Which of the following did Augustus do
title of Augustus, which can be translated in Latin as as ruler?
what? A. Establish official police and
A. “The first emperor” firefighting services
B. “Heir of Caesar” B. Establish a standing army
C. “The holy one” C. Reform the system of taxation
D. “The illustrious one” D. All of the above
9. ______ Octavian Augustus established this 10. ______ Approximately how long did the Pax
personal bodyguard unit that later evolved into an Romana last?
imperial guard and a political force: A. Twenty years
A. Hastati B. Fifty years
B. Praetorian Guard C. One hundred years
C. Swiss Guard D. Two hundred years
D. Varangian Guard
