1. The Age of Augustus: The founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor (27 BC - 14 AD)

2. Early Life of Augustus Augustus was born Gaius Octavius in the city of Rome in 63 B.C.E. Historians typically refer to Octavius as Octavian before his assumption of the name Augustus later in life. His family was wealthy and held several offices of power. His mother was the niece of Julius Caesar, a line of ancestry that would soon serve him well.

3. Early Life of Augustus As a young adult, Octavian joined the military, crossing hostile territory in Hispania to join his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. To further his military training, Octavian traveled to Illyria (modern-day Balkans). On March 15 th, 44 B.C.E., during Octavian’s time in Illyria, the famed military general and dictator Julius Caesar was murdered by senators, who feared Caesar’s absolute power. Having no legitimate children, Julius Caesar adopted Octavian as his son and his heir. After Caesar’s death, Octavian left Illyria and returned to Italy (Brundisium), where he was informed of the will and decided to accept Caesar’s political and estate inheritance.

5. Octavian’s Rise to Power Octavian assumed the position as commander of Julius Caesar’s army and with the support of Caesar’s veterans, he traveled to Rome in May of 44 B.C.E., where he found Caesar’s former colleague, Mark Antony, in the position of consul. The Romans did not support Antony. This was due to Antony’s motion to oppose elevating Julius Caesar to divine status after his death. On January 1 st, 43 B.C.E., the Senate inducted Octavian as a senator and granted him imperium, which was official commanding power over the Roman army.

6. Octavian’s Rise to Power: Second Triumvirate Despite tension between Octavian and Antony, the men formed a “triumvirate” in October of 43 B.C.E., which was a political alliance between three men (the third man being Marcus Lepidus). The purpose was to assure that no one man would become dictator and to expand the reaches of the Republic. The triumvirate allowed the men to divide the territories of the Roman Republic: Octavian controlled Italy and provinces to the North and West, Antony held power in the East, and Lepidus controlled provinces in Africa.

7. The Roman Republic during the Second Triumvirate 43-33 B.C.E.

8. Demise of Second Triumvirate While Mark Antony was in the Eastern provinces, he allied himself with Cleopatra. He also happened to father 3 children with her, despite being married to Octavian’s sister, Octavia. This was extremely upsetting to the Romans. They believed their race to be the most superior, thus viewed Antony’s actions as a betrayal to Roman rule. In 34 B.C.E., Antony captured the kingdom of Armenia. The final act of betrayal, Antony giving Cleopatra the title of “Queen of Kings” in Armenia, would lead to battle.

9. Battle of Actium With Lepidus having been exiled by this point, Octavian convinced the Senate that Antony was trying to diminish the preeminence of Rome. Octavian seized Antony's secret will and promptly publicized it. The will would have given away Roman- conquered territories to his sons and designated Alexandria as the site for his tomb. In late 32 B.C.E, the Senate revoked Antony's powers and declared war on Cleopatra's regime in Egypt.

10. Battle of Actium In 31 B.C.E., Octavian and his general Marcus Agrippa pursued Antony and Cleopatra’s fleet across the Bay of Actium on the western coast of Greece. Octavian was victorious and Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide. After the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian was in a position to rule the entire Republic. He was aware, however, of the fate of Julius Caesar, and made careful moves so he would not be portrayed as an absolute ruler.

11. The Roman Empire In 27 BC, Octavian made a show of returning full power to the Roman Senate and relinquishing his control of the Roman provinces and their armies. He retained the loyalty of active duty soldiers and veterans alike, which alone made him very powerful. The Senate would later return the power to him, however, this was not made public. Octavian enjoyed the full support of the Senate, as he spent his own money to finance building and maintenance work in Rome so that the Senators wouldn’t have to pay a penny. This popularity amongst the Senators earned him the title “ Augustus ” the illustrious one.

12. Augustus as Emperor The Age of Augustus was a four-decades-long age of peace and prosperity that evolved out of civil war. This time is also known as the Pax Romana Roman peace. The Roman Empire acquired more territory and Roman culture flourished. He initiated an ambitious building program in which he rebuilt roads, erected temples, and built a new Forum and theater. In his famous inscription Res Gestae Divi Augusti (The Deeds of the Divine Augustus) he claims to have restored or built 82 temples in one year.

13. Augustus as Emperor Augustus passed many sweeping reforms, such as tax reforms that made him very popular with the people, as well as laws to maintain stability in marriage and to raise the birth rate in Rome, making adultery illegal. He prided himself on his pious morals and wanted to instill morality in all of the Roman people. Propaganda was used to achieve that goal.

15. Sol riding his chariot, Luna holding a torch, Caelus holding up the sky Images of Gods and Goddess, who were all associated with nature, suggest that Augustus’ rise to power was the “natural progression of things” and that the gods approved of him.

16. Vergil’s Aeneid: Propaganda? In addition to writing about his own accomplishments (Res Gestae), Augustus commissioned well-liked authors to promote his greatness as Emperor as well. Vergil, a Roman poet in Augustus’ day, was commissioned to write the Aeneid to glorify Rome and the Roman people by means of an epic about the adventures of Aeneas, foundeer of Rome and ancestor to the Julian family line, of which Augustus belonged.

17. Close List 2 things you learned about Octavian Augustus’ early life. List 2 things you learned about Octavian Augustus’ rise to power and rule as Emperor. Next week, we will be introduced to Vergil and his epic work, the Aeneid. Brainstorm a list of at least 3 characteristics that in your opinion define an “epic”.