Augustus
Augustus was a Roman leader and the adopted heir of Julius Caesar. He was born on 23 September 63 BC.[1] He is often called Octavian for his early life, though this is a modern convenience; Cicero used the name Octavianus only until November 44 BC.[2]
Heir of Caesar
Augustus was the great-nephew of Julius Caesar. Caesar adopted him and made him his main heir in his will, when he was 18.[3] He began to call himself Imperator Caesar divi filius.[4] Agrippa was key to his victories over Sextus Pompeius in 36 BC and at Actium in 31 BC.[5]
Rule
In 27 BC he took the name Augustus.[6] Thompson, writing in 1931, dated the start of the Roman Empire from this time.[7] According to Thompson, he avoided the title imperator and used princeps senatus, first man of the Senate.[8]
On 1 July 23 BC he gave up his eleventh consulship.[9] After this he used the powers of a tribune without actually holding the office or using the title.[10] In 18 BC his command over provinces was renewed for five years.[11] When Lepidus died in 12 BC, Augustus became pontifex maximus, the chief priest.[12] This office became central to Rome's religion.[13]
With Agrippa, he held a census in 28 BC, which counted 4,063,000 citizens. More censuses followed in 8 BC and AD 14.[14]
Record of his deeds
An account of his achievements is known as the Res Gestae. A copy was found in 1555 at the Temple of Roma and Augustus in Ancyra.[15]
See also
References
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 594. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 596. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 591. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 631. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 632. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 662. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Thompson, James Westfall (2016) [1931]. History of the Middle Ages, 300–1500. Routledge Revivals. Routledge. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-138-65906-3.
- ↑ Thompson, James Westfall (2016) [1931]. History of the Middle Ages, 300–1500. Routledge Revivals. Routledge. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-138-65906-3.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 666. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 667. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 669. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 598. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 678. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 707. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. pp. 660, 696. ISBN 9780415741521.