Who is the first emperor of Rome?

Gaius Octavius Furin (the name of this man at birth) founded the Roman Empire. Intelligent, quirky and enterprising, he was forever in history. It was a ruler with a republican spirit. The first emperor of Rome is he, who became famous as Octavian Augustus.

Family and upbringing of a young Octavia

Augustus himself always counted himself (according to Suetonius) to the ancient and rich family of horsemen. His father, Gaius Octavius - rich and respected - became a senator. He died and left orphans 3 children. Most interesting to us is his son from Attya's second wife (Caesar's niece), whom later Augustus will call - the first emperor of Rome, orphaned at 4 years old.

According to Suetonius, he was born before dawn, either 23, or 24.09.63 BC. E., Presumably in the Palantine quarter in the Viltrah (historians do not exclude that in Rome), where later they will set up a sanctuary for him. His children's room in the grandfather's house in the Vltrakh for some inexplicable reasons aroused fear and horror of one who entered it without a rite of purification. Young Octavia was raised by her grandmother, Caesar's sister, and at the age of 12 he made a speech at her funeral. At the age of 16, he received military awards from Caesar for his victories in Africa, although he himself did not take part in the war. Later, he, not having recovered from a serious illness, went after Caesar to Spain and was awarded the title of patrician. Caesar adopted an educated, cautious, intelligent Octavius in 45 BC. E. The will for inheritance was kept by the Vestals in complete secrecy. Caesar sent his heir to Apollonia (present-day Albania) in order to complete his education and prepare for a new war.

The Legacy of the Dictator (44 BC)

Upon learning of the murder of Caesar, Octavius sailed to Rome and inherited. Expressing the bitterness of loss, he grew a beard as a sign of mourning for the dictator. In honor of his victories, he played games. By the way, at that time a comet appeared, to which the majority were frightened. But Octavius was able to convince the Romans that this is the divine soul of Caesar.

Conquering popularity, he sold the inheritance and distributed to the Romans three hundred sesterces. First, for 12 years, it was a joint government with Mark Antony and Mark Lepid, and later - for 44 years - unchallenged. So briefly depicted the life that led the first emperor of Rome.

Wars

Octavius conducted 5 wars: Mutinsky, Filippian, Perusian, Sicilian and Actian. As revenge for the murder of Caesar, he began to fight Cassius and Brutus, but Consul Antonius did not support him. Then he began to fight with Antony. But he unexpectedly received the support of generals and troops, and therefore Octavius applied diplomatic ability and again teamed up with Antony.

Destroying Brutus, they together successfully completed the Philippine war. Antonia was sent to the East to establish the Roman order. Octavius was engaged in resettlement of veterans on municipal lands. At this time, a rebellion was raised in Perusia, and after his suppression, Augustus showed cruelty to the defeated.

The Sicilian war with Sextus Pompey lasted 4 years. It was complicated by the weakness of Octavius as a commander and by natural conditions: storms destroyed the fleet. On his call from Africa the arrogant Mark Lepid came to help and demanded the first place in the state. Antony enticed his army to himself, and Lepidus exiled to Circe until the end of the day. The alliance with Antony was never strong.

The war began, and in the battle of the sea under the action of Antony was defeated. He was persecuted in Alexandria, where Antony took refuge with Cleopatra and where he committed suicide. Later, the son of Cleopatra, Caesarion, was executed. So the future first emperor of Rome came to power.

Principate

By the year 27, Octavius had left only the persons who were his obvious allies in the senate, and boldly announced that the state should belong to the people and the senate.

The senators "persuaded" him to lead the empire, and Octavius became viceroy of all the provinces in which the legions were, that is, he led the whole army. He received the title of Princeps - the first senator of the state. This actually meant that he was the first emperor of Rome. In addition, he was given an honorary name. So the first emperor of Rome became Augustus ("divine"). A little later he became a high priest, a great pontiff. In the hands of Augustus concentrated all power in the state: military, civil and priestly. The first emperor of Rome became an autocratic master.

Foreign policy under Augustus

In his conquests there were both good fortunes and defeats, but on the whole the empire was considerably expanded. Under the power of Rome were the Alps, the right bank of the Danube, the whole of Gallia and the Pyrenees, North Africa, Greece, Judaea, Syria, Bosporus Kingdom.

All this became possible after the first emperor of Rome made a reform in the army, thanks to which the latter became professional. The fleet was reformed. On average, 2/3 of the taxes collected went to the army.

Economy

Under Augustus, systematic minting of money was established. Barter relations were considered barbarous. The first emperor of Ancient Rome greatly strengthened the trade - luxury goods were brought to the capital, and in the provinces the trade in grain, olive oil and wine was brisk. Piracy was abolished, and the sea trade flourished.

The Pride of the Roman Emperor

Brick ruler gradually turned into a marble Roman. Carrara marble went to the construction of the temple of Apollo - the first major structure. The Forum (square) of Augustus with the temple of Mars the Avenger standing on it became a significant cult building.

On the square, the statue of Augustus was arranged in a chariot. The Altar of Peace was built in honor of the triumph in Gaul and Spain. In addition, very early painful emperor began to conduct for himself and his relatives the construction of the mausoleum on the Champ de Mars. The emperor's figure crowned the roof of the tomb.

In total, he repaired and erected eighty-two sanctuaries in Rome. And this markedly exalted his personality, and at the same time reduced unemployment.

There is also intensive civil construction: roads, streets, markets, warehouses, aqueducts, fountains, municipal sewerage, public baths, public library.

What was Augustus

Augustus was married three times, but had only one child from his second wife, daughter Julia. However, her dissolute behavior forced the emperor to send the girl into exile.

The exterior of the famous emperor is well known for the surviving statues.

It was a man about 1 m tall, 70 cm tall, which was higher than the average height of people of that time. But for the emperor, he seemed inadequate, and Augustus therefore wore shoes with a platform. He had blond hair and eyes and ugly rare teeth, and the skin of the ruler of Rome had a golden hue.

Character

Superstitions, the conviction that signs and dreams carry information and are very important, are one of the main features of Augustus' personality. He was very afraid of the assassination, so when Octavian was in the Senate, he had armor under his clothes.

The governor slept badly, often woke up, because of what he got up late. In the winter he froze and wore a warm toga, wrapped his feet. He was not greedy for food. Eat a simple meal and drank a little. The emperor loved to play dice, often played for money, and besides, was fond of fishing. Physical exercises of varying degrees of complexity involved in his youth. Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, knew Greek well, but never wrote on it.

Health

Octavian was a painful man, but life lived a long one - 76 years. He did not tolerate heat as well as cold. Runny nose accompanied him almost all the time, and to old age rheumatism prevailed.

Ironically, the name of the first emperor of Rome was worn by his last emperor, whom contemporaries were mockingly called not by a full name, but simply by Augusten.