Wednesday, June 18, 2014

What were the main contributions that Augustus made to Roman society?

The Emperor Augustus, also known as Octavius, was the nephew of Julius Caesar and ruled after his death. Augustus, then named Octavian, was a ruler of Rome from 46 BCE to 36 BCE along with Antony and Lepidus as part of the Second Triumvirate, which assumed power after Caesar’s assassination. He was sole ruler from 27 BCE until his death in 14 CE.
Much of the Triumvirate’s early attention was devoted to cleansing the empire of Caesar’s assassins and their supporters; a turning point in this campaign was the Battle of Philippi, which resulted in the deaths of Brutus and Cassius. Together with Antony from his base in Egypt, Octavian and Lepidus defeated Pompey. Conflicts among the three resulted in Lepidus being forced out of the Triumvirate. Antony’s involvement with Egypt’s Cleopatra and subsequent divorce from Octavian’s sister, Octavia, soured the men’s relationship. After a series of battles and some vicious retribution, Octavian emerged triumphant as supreme ruler of Rome.
In 27 BCE, Octavian resigned his powers, which the Senate then restored, crowning him Augustus. However, he professed modesty by using the title First Citizen. He was also soon named Imperator or Commander-in-Chief of Rome’s military forces and then Imperator Maius over the entire Roman Empire. Augustus’s long reign was the most stable era in the empire’s history. Especially notable for the general peace, known as the Pax Romana, the period was largely devoid of major wars. He embarked on an ambitious building program, following Julius Caesar’s initiatives, which included dozens of temples and the Roman baths. Literature flourished with contributors such as Virgil. Augustus is also credited for widespread legal reforms, including marriage laws. After his death, he was declared a god.
https://www.ancient.eu/augustus/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augustus-Roman-emperor

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