Augustus Essay Example

Augustus Essay Octavian better known as Augustus was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius on the steps of the Roman senate on March 15, 44 B.C. The assasins thought that Caesar was hiring uneligible people as representatives. The senators thought by killing Caesar it would bring peace upon Rome, but it just brought upon a civil war. After the assassination a long time associate of Caesars, Mark Antony and Octavian were on a quest to avenge Caesars death. After a while Antony and Octavian turned on each other. Octavian steadily gained more and more terrain and the support of many Romans by telling them that Mark Antony was plotting against them with the queen of Egypt. Subsequent to Octavian basically winning over the Roman people Antony and Cleopatra commited suicide leaving Octavian in complete power over Rome. Octavian wanted to, like his father to turn Romes government into a established political structure. This would be a e xtremely difficult task for Octavian to complete because of Romes strong republican background and them believing that the government was brought to them by the gods. Octavian did not want to scare the Roman people or senate by them thinking that he was some sort of tyrant, thus he had to reestablish laws and employ officials where he saw fit to uphold a political system to his like. Before Augustus came into power many Romans thought that their gods have given up on them and just left them to be in constant war. The Roman people thought that Augustuss military competence led the gods to be on his and their side. Augustus hired many writers and sculptors to brighten up the city of Rome and liven the spirits of his people. Many poems written about Augustus in essence glorified him and brought more popularity upon him. Yet their were some writers who openly criticized him to many different effects. Augustus Essay Example Augustus Paper Augustus Caesaar is known as one of the most prominent and capable leaders in Roman history. Born as Gaius Octavius Thurnius, Augustus became a member of the Second Triumvirate. He eventually defeated the army of his fellow Triumvirate member, Marcus Antonius and became sole ruler of Rome. Octavius was renamed Augustus by the Roman Senate and the era of Pax Romana (Roman peace) was ushered in. Pax Romana lasted for two hundred years. This era, known as the Golden Age, is the longest period in time that there has been peace in human history. Gaius Octavius Thurnius was born on September 23, 63 B.C. to Atia, who was the niece of Julius Caesar.Julius Caesar was the dictator of Rome at this time. Octaviansfirst public appearance came when he was twelve years old, in 51 B.C.His grandmother Julia died and he delivered the eulogy at her funeral.Octavius was adopted by Julius Caesar and after the assassination of Julius on March 15, 44 B.C. (The Ides Of March) Rome plunged into chaos (Matthe ws, 108).Due to the fact that Julius Caesar had put Octavian in his will, Octavian had the right to the name Caesar and assumed the name C. Julius Caesar Octavianus.The nineteen-year-old Octavian was given minimal power by the senate in 43 B.C., only to have it taken away again.Angered by this move by the senate, Octavian formed an alliance called the Second Triumvirate with Marcus Antonius and Marcus Lepidus.Marcus Antonius took control of Egypt, and Marcus Lepidus assumed power in North Africa while Octavian ruled Italy, Gaul, France and Spain.Thefirst actions of the members of the Second Triumvirate were to kill the great speaker and writer Cicero along with more than a hundred other senators and knights.Their next move was to avenge the murder of Julius Caesar and to move against the Senators under the leadership of Brutus and Cassius.Brutus and Cassius were defeated and killed at the battle of Philippi in Mac