Augustus
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Augustus as Pontifex Maximus PD Courtesy of Marie-Lan Nguyen |
by Adrian Dorrington
Originally named Gaius Octavius, Augustus was born on September 23rd, 63 B.C. in Velitrae, which lies southeast of Rome. The great-nephew of Julius Caesar, Octavian was born into a prosperous family of Knights. His father was a Senator who rose to a position of Praetor (a state official whose importance was rivalled by the Consuls). When his father died in 59 B.C., his mother Atia remained the boy’s guardian. She was the niece of Julius Caesar.
Octavian was adopted by Julius Caesar as his personal heir: when Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C., Octavian took the name of his adopted father and succeeded as ruler of the Roman state. Dying in A.D. 14 (just short of his 76th year), Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, ruled for over 41 years (27 B.C. - A.D. 14). His entire reign has been named the Augustan Age for its political stability and prosperity.
Next page > Octavian's life under the shadow of Caesar > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
This resource page is © Adrian Dorrington.
