Augustus Caesar - The First Roman Emperor Essay

Caesar Augustus the man who found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. Caesar Augustus, one of the strongest and most strategic leaders in roman history, but this was all much later in his life, he started off in a very poor state yet through hard work and determination he came out on top to be known throughout the generations.

Octavian was an effective leader because he was humble and generous to the Roman citizens. Octavian was not power hungry and did not enjoy being called “Lord” or “Sire”. As Octavian states in Document C, “When the dictatorship was offered to me, I did not accept it” (Document C). Octavian did not want the dictatorship because he did not want too much power. He wanted the Roman government to be equal.

Octavian modernized a weak republic into a powerful empire, allowing his ruling to be remembered throughout Roman history. " Found Rome a city of Brick and left it a city of marble," said Octavian himself (Source 1).He was so great of leader that he created an atmosphere in Rome where the people wanted to keep him in power.

She originally came to Rome due to him. Once he died, Cleopatra returned to Egypt, while still supporting Antony, whom eventually became her lover (McKay, Hill and Buckler). In 31 BCE, Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian, at the Battle of Actium in Greece, but they escaped. The end of the Civil War was when “Octavian chased them back to Egypt, where the two committed suicide, rather than die at the hands of him,” (McKay, Hill and Buckler). In 27 BCE, the news got back to the Senate in Rome. Octavian was loved by all and even given a new name, Augustus, meaning “revered one,” which also marked the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire (McKay, Hill and

Although Julius Caesar was an excellent leader, he was not as great of a ruler as Augustus Caesar. A major key to being a good leader is that the leader should try to keep his or her people safe. Peace and protection is far better than havoc and destruction. Julius Caesar was a warlord, not a

Octavian Augustus is one of the fiercest leaders in the history of the Roman Empire because of his successful military expansion, his Control of Finance, and his political leadership.

Julius Caesar is thought of as the most powerful and glorious ruler to step foot in Rome. The only thing

He returned Home to peace after defeated Anthony and took credit for “restoring the republic” (Citation). He first suggested to the Senate to give him an impressive amount of provincial command and became the legal commander of most of the Roman army. Octavian begins to gain the trust and powerful positions that will prepare him to take over the Senate, especially after letting governors appointed by the Senate govern his provinces. “Through this arrangement, Octavian showed respect to the Senate” (Citation). Respecting the Senate while taking over it was the strategy that Caesar had missed while taking over, and the determined Octavian was not going to make the same mistake. The day Octavian received the name of Augustus is the day of the beginning of the Roman Empire, and after resigned from the consulship, Augusts received and a power of command that covered the entire Roman world from the Senate. But the Senate couldn’t stop Octavian from taking over the Empire because they had also named him with the power of a tribune, and he could veto any actions he wanted along with offering legislation. Octavian had the power to control Rome’s legal system without anyone stopping him because it was illegal to do

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian hereinafter referred to “Augustus”, was given the title of imperium by age of 19, to gain this, he amassed a private army and marched on the Senate in Revenge for his adopted father’s murder. Augustus developed a peaceful and cultural Ancient Rome . In contrast, both Caesar and Sulla before him, were appointed to dictator under the Lex Valeria (Valerian law) , both had ultimate goals of monarchy, but where Caesar, used the people to ascertain if this would be accepted , Sulla ruled with an iron fist.

Julius Caesar's reign was an unfavorable and chaotic period for Rome, and after his death, a large portion of the empire was handed down to his adopted son, Gaius Octavian. From the ashes of his father, Octavian was able to build an Empire unparalleled. Later, the name Augustus was given to him by Senate. Augustus ostensibly maintained the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality creating the Roman Empire. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to the Pax Romana with its flourishing of trade and the arts. Although Augustus's ascension to power could have not been without it bequested by Julius, it was his use of art and propaganda that reinforced the legitimacy his position.

became the protector of the Roman people. His backbone of his power was his army but

In 31BC Augustus won the battle of Actium against his former colleague in the triumvirate, but now bitter rival, Antony and the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, after having been in the triumvirate since 43BC.

Augustus, during his reign as emperor proved effective in ruling through the ideas he implemented to solidify his country. Tacitus stated “nullo adversante” which translates into English “Wholly unopposed” (http://janusquirinus.org/Quotes/QuotesHome.html) this identifies the effectiveness of his reign and the strength he had politically over Rome. Important actions such as the creation of religious and moral reforms, the constitutional agreement and the implementation of the building programme all succeeded in creating stability within the Roman Empire.

Julius Caesar is and was one of the most influential people in history. He created laws, stuck wars, and developed new strategies for leadership and battles. "Caesar is widely considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, as well as a brilliant politician and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders (Julius Caesar pg.1)." He transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire and he extended his land all the way through Gaul to The Atlantic Ocean, as well as fighting a civil war and being proclaimed as dictator for life.

At the time of Julius Caesar’s assassination Octavian was planning to take a senior military role in the Parthian expedition of 44BC. He was with the army at Apollonia, in what is now Albania and was only eighteen at the time, which made his rivals consistently underestimate him and his abilities. After hearing of Caesars death he started to head back to Rome, learning on the way that he was now Caesar’s new adopted son and heir (as written in Caesars will). In his will Caesar has named Octavian as his successor and has left him three quarters of his estate, he also acquired the name Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavious, Caesar’s slaves, including secretarial staff and those who handled finances