Gaius Octavius Furin (that was the name of this man at birth) founded the Roman Empire. Smart, quirky and enterprising, he will forever remain in history. It was a ruler with a republican spirit. He is considered the first emperor of Rome, who became famous under the name Octavian Augustus.
Family and upbringing of young Octavius
Augustus himself always considered himself (according to Suetonius) to an ancient and rich family of horsemen. His father, Gaius Octavius - rich and respected - became a senator. He died and left 3 children orphans. The most interesting for us is his son from the second wife of Attia (Caesar's niece), who later will be called Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, orphaned at 4 years old.
According to Suetonius, he was born before dawn on either 23 or 24.09.63 BC. e., presumably in the palatine quarter in Velitra (historians do not exclude that in Rome), where a sanctuary would later be erected to him. His children's room in his grandfather's house in Velitra, for some inexplicable reason, caused fear and horror in those who entered it without a rite of purification. Young Octavius was raised by his grandmother, Caesar's sister, and at the age of 12 he gave a speech at her funeral. At the age of 16, he received military awards from Caesar for victories inAfrica, although he himself did not take part in the war. Later, not getting stronger from a serious illness, he followed Caesar to Spain and received the title of patrician. Caesar adopted the educated, cautious, intelligent Octavius in 45 BC. e. The testament of succession was kept in complete secrecy by the Vestal Virgins. Caesar sent his heir to Apollonia (now Albania) to complete his education and prepare for a new war.
Dictator's Legacy (44 BC)
Having learned about the murder of Caesar, Octavius sailed to Rome and entered into the inheritance. Showing the bitterness of loss, he grew a beard as a sign of mourning for the dictator. In honor of his victories, he held games. By the way, at this time a comet appeared, which most were afraid of. But Octavius managed to convince the Romans that it was the divine soul of Caesar.
Gaining popularity, he sold his inheritance and distributed three hundred sesterces to the Romans. First, for 12 years, it was a joint rule with Mark Antony and Mark Lepidus, and later - for 44 years - autocratic. This is a brief outline of the life that the first emperor of Rome led.
Wars
Octavius spent 5 wars: Mutinskaya, Philippian, Perusian, Sicilian and Actian. As revenge for the murder of Caesar, he began to fight with Cassius and Brutus, but the consul Antony did not support him. Then he began to fight Antony. But he unexpectedly received the support of generals and troops, and therefore Octavius used diplomatic skills and again teamed up with Antony.
Destroying Brutus, together they successfully ended the Philippine War. Anthony was sent to the East toestablish the Roman order. Octavius was engaged in the resettlement of veterans on municipal lands. At this time, a rebellion was raised in Perusia, and after its suppression, Augustus showed cruelty to the vanquished.
The Sicilian war with Sextus Pompey lasted 4 years. It was complicated by the weakness of Octavius as a commander and natural conditions: storms destroyed the fleet. On his call from Africa, the arrogant Mark Lepidus came to the rescue and demanded for himself the first place in the state. Antony lured his army to himself, and Lepidus was exiled to Circe until the end of his days. The alliance with Antony was never lasting.
The war began, and in the battle at sea near Aktion Antony was defeated. He was pursued in Alexandria, where Antony took refuge with Cleopatra and where he committed suicide. Later, Cleopatra's son Caesarion was executed. This is how the future first emperor of Rome came to power.
Principate
By 27, Octavius left in the Senate only persons who were his clear allies, and boldly declared that the state should belong to the people and the senate.
The senators "begged" him to head the empire, and Octavius became the governor of all the provinces in which the legions were located, that is, he led the entire army. He received the title of princeps - the first senator of the state. This effectively meant that he was the first emperor of Rome. In addition, he was given an honorary name. So Augustus ("divine") became the first emperor of Rome. A little later, he became the high priest, the great pontiff. In the hands of Augustconcentrated all power in the state: military, civil and priestly. The first emperor of Rome was the sovereign master.
Foreign policy during August
There were both successes and defeats in his conquests, but in general the empire was greatly expanded. The Alps, the right bank of the Danube, all of Gaul and the Pyrenees, North Africa, Greece, Judea, Syria, the Bosporan Kingdom fell under the rule of Rome.
All this became possible after the first emperor of Rome made a reform in the army, thanks to which the latter became professional. The fleet was reformed. On average, 2/3 of the collected taxes went to the maintenance of the army.
Economy
Under Augustus, a systematic minting of money was established. Barter relations began to be considered barbaric. The first emperor of Ancient Rome significantly strengthened trade - luxury goods were brought to the capital, and grain, olive oil, and wine were traded briskly in the provinces. Piracy was eliminated and maritime trade flourished.
Pride of the Roman Emperor
Brick Rome ruler gradually began to turn into marble. Carrara marble went to the construction of the Temple of Apollo - the first major building. The forum (square) of Augustus with the temple of Mars the Avenger standing on it has become a significant cult building.
The statue of Augustus on a chariot was placed on the square. An altar of Peace was built in honor of the triumph in Gaul and Spain. In addition, very early, the sickly emperor began to behave for himself andhis relatives building a mausoleum on the Field of Mars. The roof of the tomb was crowned with the figure of the emperor.
In total, he repaired and erected eighty-two shrines in Rome. And this noticeably ex alted his personality, and at the same time reduced unemployment.
There was also intensive civil construction: roads, streets, markets, warehouses, aqueducts, fountains, city sewers, public baths, a public library.
What was August like
August was married three times, but had only one child from his second wife, a daughter, Yulia. However, her dissolute behavior forced the emperor to send the girl into exile.
The appearance of the famous emperor is well known from the preserved statues.
He was a man about 1m 70cm tall, which was taller than the average height of people of that time. But for the emperor, he seemed insufficient, and therefore Augustus wore shoes with a platform. He had blond hair and eyes and ugly sparse teeth, and the skin of the ruler of Rome had a golden hue.
Character
Superstition, the conviction that omens and dreams carry information and are very important, are one of the main personality traits of August. He was very afraid of assassination attempts, so when Octavian was in the Senate, he had armor under his clothes.
The ruler slept badly, often woke up, because of which he got up late. In winter, he was cold and wore a warm toga, wrapped his legs. Was not hungry for food. He ate simple food and drank little. The emperor loved dice, often played for money, and besides, he was fond of fishing. PhysicalI have been doing exercises of varying degrees of difficulty since my youth. Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, knew Greek well but never wrote it.
He alth
Octavian was a sickly man, but he lived a long life - 76 years. He did not tolerate both heat and cold. Runny noses accompanied him almost all the time, and by old age he was overcome by rheumatism.
Ironically, the name of the first emperor of Rome was also borne by his last emperor, whom his contemporaries derisively called not by his full name, but simply Augusten.
