In 31 B. C. e. Octavian Augustus - the Roman consul and a member of the previously ruling triumvirate - seized full power, becoming the sole owner of a vast empire. This event marked the end of almost 500 years of the Roman Republic's history and was the beginning of the establishment of an unlimited dictatorship in it.
Heir to a we althy family
The future Roman emperor Octavian Augustus (at birth - Gaius Octavius Furin) came from a privileged class called "equites" (horsemen). His ancestors were once engaged in banking operations, and thus laid the foundation for the welfare of their descendants. Despite the we alth that belonged to him, the Octavius family did not belong to the Roman elite, subsequently the political opponents of the emperor reproached him for the lack of a proper pedigree.
The birth date of Octavian Augustus is September 23, 63 BC. e., so, at least, his contemporary, the ancient Roman historian Gaius Suetonius, claimed, but the exact place of birth is unknown, but it is generally believed that this happened in the capital of the empire. When the future dictator was barely 5 years old, his father(also Gaius), who at that time acted as governor of Macedonia, died, and his mother remarried, this time to Consul Lucius Philip.
Under the patronage of Caesar
From that time on, young Octavian was given to be raised by his maternal grandmother, who was the sister of Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar (pictured below). It played a decisive role in his life. When, a few years later, the ruler of the empire returned from the Gallic War and met his young nephew, he was amazed at the level of knowledge that he managed to acquire under the guidance of the best metropolitan teachers. Foreseeing in him the successor of his affairs, the emperor adopted the young man, opening up unlimited prospects for him. In addition, he made a will, according to which the newly-born stepson was to receive most of his inheritance.
Having become related to the great Caesar, Octavian Augustus, despite his youth, became a very influential figure in Rome, many dignitaries sought his patronage. According to the legislation that existed at that time, imperial power was not inherited, and it could be obtained only by winning the popular elections. However, becoming Caesar's stepson, Octavian gained support from the Roman army, who deified their ruler. Subsequently, this became a decisive factor in the struggle for power.
Popularity bought with money
When in March 44 B. C. e. Julius Caesar was killed by conspirators, his stepson was inGreece, where he was preparing to lead the legions going to war with Dacia. Over him, too, despite the support of the army, there was a danger of becoming a victim of the struggle for power. Nevertheless, Octavian Augustus found the courage to come to Rome, he managed to consistently carry out a number of events that contributed to strengthening his authority among the population.
In particular, from the inheritance he received, each citizen of Rome was given a hefty amount - 300 sesterces, which the murdered emperor allegedly intended for this purpose. Such generosity put Octavian on the brink of ruin, but at the same time made him a universal idol, while the main contender for the imperial throne, Mark Antony, was catastrophically losing his popularity. Then he became known as Gaius Octavian Augustus Caesar.
Creating a ruling triumvirate
Taking advantage of his popularity, he went to the south of Italy and, having gathered there an army of many thousands of opponents of his rival Antony and his supporters, moved it to Rome. Thus began the civil war, which ended with the victory of Octavian in the battle of the city of Mutina (hence the name - the Mutinsky War).
However, very soon, yesterday's opponents were forced to unite to fight a common enemy - the Republican Party, which was gaining more and more strength in Rome and intending to return the country to its former form of government. Octavian and Antony found support in the person of the consul Mark Lepidus, creating a governing body that taught the name of the Second Triumvirate. Together theyinflicted a crushing defeat on the defenders of the freedom of Rome, destroying more than 300 senators, about 2000 horsemen and a huge number of ordinary soldiers who took their side. Their latest victims were the recent killers of Caesar - Brutus and Cassius.
The beginning of the war with Mark Antony
The triumvirate completed its victory over the Republicans by dividing the territories subordinated to Rome. Octavian Augustus became the ruler of Italy and all European colonies, Antony took control of Asia, and Lepidus got Africa, but he was soon forced to step down from power, giving way to more energetic competitors. At the same time, not wanting to remain only a co-ruler of the state and dreaming of the imperial throne, the stepson of Julius Caesar significantly strengthened his popularity among the troops by giving them all the confiscated lands.
On the way to sole power, he was helped by the reckless behavior of Antony (pictured above), who, having fallen under the female spell of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, began to give away the Roman provinces to her children. This caused a wave of indignation in Italy, which Octavian did not fail to take advantage of. Inspiring the people with patriotic speeches and enlisting the support of the army, he declared war on the insidious Egyptian and her lover.
Establishment of a one-man board
For Antony and Cleopatra, this turn of events ended in disaster. Their joint fleet was defeated in the battle of Actium, which took place in 31 BC. er, and they themselves, in order to avoid shame, committed suicide. The return of Octavian to Rome resulted in a reala triumph to which days of festivities were dedicated.
After finishing with Antony, Octavian became the sole ruler of Rome, but he faced a choice as to which form of government to prefer - republican or monarchical. After some hesitation, he settled on the second option, thus ending the almost 500-year-old Roman Republic.
Fearing the discontent of the masses, Octavian retained some state institutions, such as the senate, popular assemblies, independent courts and some others, but at the same time he himself took a number of key administrative positions. Gradually establishing his power and putting an end to the opposition, he became emperor - the sole and sovereign master of the Great Roman Empire.
Father of the Fatherland
Contemporaries of the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus, as well as historians of subsequent centuries, argued that his further activities greatly contributed to the development and prosperity of the state. The scope of his personal intervention was unusually wide, it included issues related to various areas of life. It is known that Octavian, who was the author of many progressive laws for his time, was able to significantly change public mores for the better and improve discipline in the army.
During the reign of Octavian Augustus, the number of colonies of the Roman Empire increased and, accordingly, the influx of tribute from them expanded, which could not but affect the general well-being of citizens. For the tireless patronage of the sciences and arts, the Senate honored its ruler with the honorary title of "father of the fatherland" and named the 8th month of the year August in his honor. As you know, this name has survived the centuries, having survived to this day.
The Emperor's foreign policy
The reign of Emperor Octavian Augustus was filled with numerous wars, in which he personally led the army only once, during the Spanish campaign. In most cases, this mission was entrusted to his commanders Drusus and Tiberius. He made the latter by will his rightful successor.
The Roman army, which at that time was the most powerful military force in the world, managed for some time even to make Germany part of its European colonies. As for such peoples of the ancient world as the Illyrian, Pannonian, Alpine and Gaelic tribes, they remained under the rule of Rome until its final fall in the 4th century.
The sad end of life
It seemed that fate, pouring out all its bounties on Octavian Augustus Caesar, turned his life into an endless holiday. However, this was far from the case. The luck that accompanied him in political affairs and military campaigns was fatally combined with the sorrow that emanated from the depths of his family. Having received full power, the emperor established a law on succession to the throne, according to which he had the right to appoint his successor. So without waiting for the birth of his son, he pinned his hopes on his grandchildren - Gaius and Lucius, Drusus' nephew. However, all three diedin his youth, leaving him no opportunity to become the founder of the ruling dynasty.
But most of all Octavian's grief was caused by his wife Agrippa and daughter Julia, who became famous throughout the empire for their unheard-of debauchery. Even with those extremely loose morals that reigned in Roman society, these ladies managed to cross all conceivable and inconceivable boundaries, making the emperor a laughing stock in the eyes of the people.
Desperate to somehow influence them, the unfortunate husband and father decided to retire to one of the Mediterranean provinces to rest and improve his nerves, but on the way he fell ill and died on August 19, 14. Thus, in the 45th year of his reign, the era of Octavian Augustus Caesar ended, putting an end to republican rule in the country and marking the birth of the cult of the emperor.
