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# Augustus

## Overview
Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE), born Gaius Octavius, was the first Roman emperor. He transformed Rome from a republic into an empire and inaugurated the Pax Romana. He is considered one of the most effective leaders in Roman history, ruling for over 40 years.

## Key Facts
- Born: 23 September 63 BCE, Rome [^1]
- Died: 19 August 14 CE, Nola @t[=0014] [^1]
- Reign: 27 BCE – 14 CE [^1]
- Original name: Gaius Octavius; adopted as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus [^1]
- Title: Augustus ("the revered one"), granted 27 BCE [^1]
- Wife: Livia Drusilla (married 38 BCE; marriage lasted until his death) [^3]
- Children: Julia the Elder (by Scribonia); no biological sons [^3]

## Rise to Power
- Adopted heir of Julius Caesar (44 BCE) [^1]
- Second Triumvirate with Mark Antony and Lepidus (43 BCE) [^1]
- Battle of Actium (31 BCE): Defeated Antony and Cleopatra [^1]
- Senate granted him the title Augustus (27 BCE), marking the start of the Principate [^1]

## Achievements
- Pax Romana: Inaugurated ~200 years of relative peace [^2]
- Administrative reforms: Professionalized the army, created the Praetorian Guard [^1]
- Building program: "Found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble" [^2]
- Established the imperial succession system; adopted stepson Tiberius as heir [^3]
- Month of August named after him [^1]
- Appointed *pontifex maximus*, becoming both secular and religious head of the empire [^4]
- Revived traditional Roman religion: restored temples, reintroduced festivals (Lupercalia, Ludi Saeculares in 17 BCE) [^4]
- Social and moral reforms: *Lex Julia* legislation incentivized marriage and childbearing, penalized adultery as a civil crime [^4]
- Established the Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace), dedicated 9 BCE [^4]

## Succession
Augustus was succeeded by his adopted stepson Tiberius (14–37 CE), founding the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Subsequent emperors — Caligula, Claudius, and Nero — were all descendants or adoptees within this line. [^3]

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[^1]: Suetonius, *The Twelve Caesars*
[^2]: Everitt, A. *Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor* (2006)
[^3]: World History Encyclopedia, "Rome under the Julio-Claudian Dynasty" (worldhistory.org/article/1468), 2022
[^4]: Fife, S. "Augustus' Political, Social, & Moral Reforms." *World History Encyclopedia* (worldhistory.org/article/116), 2023