Gaius octavian biography for kids

For the ancient Roman title, please see Augustus (honorific)

Augustus (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) was the first and one of the most important Roman Emperors. He led Rome in its transition from a Republic to a great Empire.

Early Life

Augustus was born at Rome with the name Gaius Octavius Thurinus. His father, also Gaius Octavius, came from a respectable but undistinguished family of the equestrian order and was governor of Macedonia before his death in 58 BC. More importantly, his mother Atia was the niece of Rome's greatest general and de facto ruler, Julius Caesar. In 46 BC Caesar, who had no legitimate children, took his grand-nephew soldiering in Hispania, and adopted him by testament as his heir. By virtue of his adoption, following Roman custom, Octavius then assumed the name C. Julius Caesar Octavianus (hereafter "Octavian").

When Caesar was assassinated in March 44 BC, his young heir was with the army at Apollonia, in what is now Albania. At the time, he was only eighteen years old.

Reign

Having gained power by means of great audacity, Augustus ruled with great prudence. In exchange for near absolute power, he gave Rome 40 years of civic peace and increasing prosperity, celebrated in history as the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace. He created Rome's first permanent army and navy and stationed the legions along the Empire's borders, where they could not meddle in politics. A special unit, the Praetorian Guard, garrisoned Rome and protected the Emperor's person. He also reformed Rome's finance and tax systems.

Augustus waged no major wars.

In domestic matters, Augustus channeled the enormous wealth brought in from the Empire to keeping the army happy with generous payments, and keeping the Romans happy by beautifying the capital and staging magnificent games.

Augustus also strongly supported worship of Roman gods,

Augustus

Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire. He was appointed emperor in 27 B.C.E. and ruled until 14 C.E. Augustus was instrumental in helping Rome move from a Republic to Empire.

He reigned over a time in the Roman Empire known as Pax Romana or Roman Peace, which lasted for 40 years. Augustus also created the first standing Roman army and navy to protect the borders of the Roman Empire.

Childhood years

Augustus was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in 63 B.C.E. within the city of Rome. He was originally known as Octavian. His father was the governor of Macedonia and named Gaius Octavius. Octavian’s mother was named Atia. She was the niece of Julius Caesar.

Octavian spent his childhood years in a village named Velletri outside of Rome. When his father died in 59 B.C.E., Atia remarried. Octavian was then sent to his grandmother Julia who was the sister of Julius Caesar, to be raised.

Joining the army

When Octavian became of age, he joined the Roman army. He followed his uncle Julius Caesar to Hispania or modern-day Spain. Octavian was a good soldier that caught the attention of his uncle. After performing well in battle, Julius Caesar adopted Octavian and made him his heir to the Caesar estate and name. During his time with Julius Caesar, he helped defeat Pompey the Great.

Rise to power

With the defeat of Pompey the Great, Julius Caesar was made dictator of Rome. Although there had been other dictators like Sulla and Cincinnatus, most people felt this was the end of the Roman Republic. But during the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C.E.

At the time of the assassination, Octavian was away. He returned to Rome and found out he had been adopted by Julius Caesar, making him the heir of Caesar. Octavian began to find support from the Roman Senate and the people of Rome. He also wanted support from the Roman legions under Julius Caesar. Octavian was able to find sufficient support in Rome to become cons

A bronze head of Augustus  ©Augustus was the first emperor of Rome. He replaced the Roman republic with an effective monarchy and during his long reign brought peace and stability.

Augustus was born Gaius Octavius on 23 September 63 BC in Rome. In 43 BC his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated and in his will, Octavius, known as Octavian, was named as his heir. He fought to avenge Caesar and in 31 BC defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. He was now undisputed ruler of Rome.

Instead of following Caesar's example and making himself dictator, Octavian in 27 BC founded the principate, a system of monarchy headed by an emperor holding power for life. His powers were hidden behind constitutional forms, and he took the name Augustus meaning 'lofty' or 'serene'. Nevertheless, he retained ultimate control of all aspects of the Roman state, with the army under his direct command.

At home, he embarked on a large programme of reconstruction and social reform. Rome was transformed with impressive new buildings and Augustus was a patron to Virgil, Horace and Propertius, the leading poets of the day. Augustus also ensured that his image was promoted throughout his empire by means of statues and coins.

Abroad, he created a standing army for the first time, and embarked upon a vigorous campaign of expansion designed to make Rome safe from the 'barbarians' beyond the frontiers, and to secure the Augustan peace. His stepsons Tiberius and Drusus undertook the task (Augustus had married their mother Livia in 38 BC). Between 16 BC and 6 AD the frontier was advanced from the Rhine to the Elbe in Germany, and up to the Danube along its entire length. But Drusus died in the process and in 9 AD the annihilation of three Roman legions in Germany (out of 28 overall), in the Varian disaster, led to the abandonment of Germany east of the Rhine.

Augustus was determined to be succeeded by someone of his own blood, but he had no so

Augustus was the first Roman Emperor and established the Roman Empire after the fall of the Republic.

He was born on 23 September 63 BC in Rome as Gaius Octavius Thurinus and was known as Octavian until he became Emperor.

He was adopted by Julius Caesar aged four, after his father died, as his mother was Caesar’s niece.

Caesar had no children so he took Octavian as his heir. Octavian joined Caesar in his battles in Spain to gain political influence in the senate.

Unlike many before and after him, he did not slowly climb the political ladder.

After Caesar became dictator and was assassinated in 44 BC, Octavian quickly earned a lot of political and military support in Rome.

He was soon elected as consul.While he was gaining power, other people were trying to grab power for themselves.

General Marc Antony

The famous general Marc Antony and senator Lepidus both thought they should be dictator.

Octavian formed a truce and alliance with them called the Second Triumvirate, where all three shared power in Rome equally. However, each one wanted to be the only person ruling Rome.After a little while, Antony, Lepidus and Octavian began plotting and fighting to each get more power.

Their private armies fought each other on the battlefield. Octavian defeated Lepidus first and then defeated Antony, after Antony had allied himself with the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra.

Antony committed suicide so that he was not captured by Octavian. After hearing of Antony’s death, Cleopatra killed herself by getting a poisonous snake to bite her.

Powerful Man

Octavian was now the most powerful man in Rome and was given the title Augustus by the senate in 27 BC.

Roman citizens did not want a king and so the now-named Augustus called himself emperor.

He kept the senate in place so that Rome still looked like a republic and so that the people would not rebel, even though the senate had little real power.

During his reign, there were no major wars or economic problems. T