AUGUSTUS CAESER 1 Augustus Caesar’s life was a rather action packed life, and the fact that he has a lot of military, and political experience also helps in his ruling as roman Emperor. From being put into the heir by the emperor, to his death bed he has had an interesting child hood, the formation of the second triumvirate , and death with consequences.
Being referred to as Octavian, he was the son of Atia. Atia was the Niece of Julius Caesar. After his father died as the senator, which led to Julius adopting him. As a child he had many health issues and frequently struggled to stay healthy. He was educated in Politics and the matters of Military, which eventually led to him on the verge of joining Julius’s Army. However, Julius Caesar was indeed assassinated in 44 BC, which put him next in line as the correct heir. This led him to later on change his name from Octavian to Augustus. Not much is known about Octavian's first two wives. Claudia was the step-daughter of Marc Antony. Octavian divorced her and married Scribonia, daughter of Lucius Scribonius Libo, in 40 B.C. He married his third and final wife Livia in 39 B.C. She already had one son, Tiberius, and was pregnant with her second, Drusus, when she met Augustus. They were married for 51 years and had one daughter, Julia, together. Julius went on to rule for a very long time, and became one of the most respected Emperors of his time.
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After Julius’s death, Power struggles in Rome were a very common thing and needed to be put to a stop. This is why the second triumvirate was created (An alliance between the following). It contained Octavian, Marc Anthony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. It was created to Maintain political control and provide mutual protection and aid for all three. A big reason of its creation, was to work together in order to bring justice to the murderer of Julius Caeser. Later on, in 42 BC Anthony and Octavian defeated the armies of Brutus and Cassius at the battle of Philipi in northern Greek. Anthony then went on to marry Octavian’s sister Octavia in 40 BC. Which he then had a romantic relationship with Cleopatra from Egypt and left, Thus breaking the truce between him and Octavian. Octavian did not hesitate in going after him. Eventually Caesar went on to defeat the two Egyptian power houses, causing them both to commit suicide, rather than be defeated by him. After this Octavian was the sole ruler of Rome.
Octavian’s power was based on his control of his army, His financial stability, and his abundant population. Augustus later made a joint government in which he would work with Suetonius. Suetonius said that his biographer, said that Augustus believed that "he himself would not be free from danger if he should retire" and that "it would be hazardous to trust the state to the control of the populace" so "he continued to keep it in his hands; and it is not easy to say
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whether his intentions or their results were the better." Which was the reason for this whole partnership in the first place. The government was formalized in 23, when Augustus received two important republican titles from the Senate— Tribune of the People and Proconsul—which together gave him enormous control over the army, foreign policy, and legislation. His full nomenclature also included his adopted name, Caesar, and the title Imperator, or commander in chief of a victorious army.
Although he was a great ruler, he also was human and fell ill and later died. He was gone but always remembered as students today still learn about him in their classes. Titus went on and ruled after him and many followed, in what Augustus Caesar had started.
Work Cited
"The Internet Classics Archive | The Deeds of the Divine Augustus by Augustus."The Internet Classics Archive | The Deeds of the Divine Augustus by Augustus.N.p., 11 May 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
"Cassius Dio: Roman History." LacusCurtius • Cassius Dio's Roman History. N.p.,23 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
LIFE OF AUGUSTUS." Nicolaus of Damascus, Life of Augustus. N.p., 14 July 2010.Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
Augastus's Legacy." BBC News. BBC, 12 June 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
