Augustus was born in Velitrae, southeast of Rome. His father (d. 59 B.C.) was a Senator who became Praetor. His mother, Atia, was the niece of Julius Caesar. Augustus' rule of Rome ushered in an era of peace. He was so important to Roman history that the age which he dominated is called by his title -- the Augustan Age. Below are some of the main articles on Augustus from the Ancient/Classical History at About.com site.
Power didn't just fall into the hands of the young Octavian. He had to fight his way to the top, although Caesar's adoption helped enormously.
• Augustus - The First Princeps or Emperor of Rome
Short synopsis of Augustus' life, with the dates on which his name changed, repeatedly.
Augustus, a fascinating and controversial man, may have been the most important figure in Roman history. Through his long life (63 B.C. - A.D. 14) and deeds, the failing Republic was converted to a Principate that endured for centuries.
• Relationship Between Caesar and Augustus
Augustus (aka Gaius Octavius or C. Julius Caesar Octavianus) became the first Roman emperor mainly because he had been adopted by Julius Caesar. Caesar is often referred to as Augustus' uncle. What was the exact relationship between Caesar and Augustus?
• The Battle That Stopped Rome
In the Teutoberg Forest disaster of A.D. 9, three Roman legions were annihilated by German tribes. Peter S. Wells' very clearly written The Battle That Stopped Rome - Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoberg Forest explains the events.
