Octavian Augustus was the first Roman emperor. Augustus Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian. Establishment of one-man rule

He died when his son was only 4 years old. However, thanks to the care of his mother and her second husband Lucius Marcius Philippa, Oct. received a careful upbringing. With his talents, he soon earned the love of Julius Caesar, who was his cousin, so that the latter adopted him in 45 and in his will appointed him as his main heir. When Caesar was killed (March 15, 44), Augustus was in Apollonia, in Epirus. He immediately hurried to Italy at this news and, having learned at Brundisium about the contents of the will, decided to accept the name of Caesar along with the inheritance and at the same time strive to inherit his power, without, however, openly expressing this last desire. At that time, two parties were fighting in Rome: the Republican, which overthrew Caesar, and the party of Antony (see this next) and Lepidus (see this next), which, under the pretext of revenge for the death of Caesar, sought only to seize power into its own hands. The struggle ended in victory for the last party; the head of the cat, consul Mark Antony, enjoyed almost unlimited power. Arriving in Rome, Aug. demanded that the latter hand over Caesar's inheritance. Anthony at first refused, but had to yield to the wishes of the veterans and agree to extradition. The outside world did not last long, however, only until September. 44 years, and when Antony left Rome to take Cisalpine Gaul from Decimus Brutus, Augustus began to recruit an army, won over the Senate and the people to his side, and led the military actions of the Senate against Antony (the so-called Mutinensian War). But after the end of this war, he discovered his real way of thinking and openly became hostile to the Republicans. He was reconciled with Antony and Lepidus, who had returned from Gaul, and at the end of October. 43, in Bologna, he concluded a triumvirate with them, after which, having carried out a bloody reprisal against their enemies in Rome and Italy, they defeated the republican army, which was under the command. Brutus and Cassius in Macedonia.

Upon returning Aug. In Italy, Antony's wife, Fulvia, together with his brother Lucius Antony, initiated a new war against him, which, however, ended in their complete defeat thanks to the successes of Agrippa, Octavian's commander. Fulvia's death prevented a new clash between Ant. and A. In Brundisi, an agreement took place between them (40), sealed by the marriage of Antony with Octavia, Octavian’s sister; under this treaty the latter received the west of the empire, including Gaul. In 88, having removed his wife Scribonia, he married the famous Livia Drusilla, the wife of Claudius Nero, whom he forced to divorce her. Soon after this, Augustus managed to eliminate some of his rivals, first Sextius Pompey (36), and then Lepida, cat. he took Africa. So. arr., the empire remained divided between A. and Anthony, with cat. the first renewed the triumvirate in 37 for another 5 years. But while Ant. in the East, he indulged in a luxurious and pampered life and became more and more entangled in the networks of Cleopatra, A. steadily pursued his plan to become the sovereign ruler of the empire. With meekness and generosity, he tried to gain the love of the people and showed the appearance that he would willingly relinquish power upon Ant’s return. from the campaign against the Parthians, of course, under the condition that the last one. followed suit. The closer he became to the people, the more clearly he spoke out against Ant. When the latter, thanks to an unsuccessful war with the Parthians, an open break with the noble Octavia and his unworthy love for Cleopatra, to whom he sacrificed Roman interests, lost all respect in Rome, Octavian in 32 BC prompted the Senate to declare war on the Egyptian queen. The victory of his general Agrippa at Actium in 81 (see this next) made him the sole owner of the empire. Octavian pursued his rival in Egypt and after the death of him and Cleopatra stayed there for 2 years to arrange affairs in Egypt, Syria, Greece and Asia Minor, and then on his return (29) celebrated his victories with a 3-day triumph.

Freed from his rivals, Octavian resigned on January 13. 27 his dictatorial power, for which he received the name from the Senate as a token of gratitude Augustus. This name later became a title denoting imperial majesty. It is clear, however, that Augustus did not at all think of restoring the ancient structure; on the contrary, he wanted, by concentrating in his hands all the most important government positions, to create a monarchy in which the previous state mechanism with the Senate at its head would continue to exist only in name. For this purpose, A., using the power of the proconsul, took over control of all the provinces in which the troops were located, and thus became commander-in-chief over all the military forces of the empire. In addition, as a tribune (see this next) he possessed such complete power that could completely absorb all the rights of the people. According to Dion Cassius, his orders even had the force of laws. To top it all off, after the death of Lepidus (12 BC) he became Pontifaex Maximus, after he had previously united in his hands all the most important priestly positions, and thus became the head of state in religious terms. In this way, thanks to him, the form of the Roman monarchy that existed until Diocletian was established. In addition to all these rights, he also received the title of Father of the Fatherland.

Augustus fought many wars in Africa, Asia and Europe. After a long and stubborn struggle (27-19), he managed to take possession of Spain; Tiberius, the eldest son of Libya, conquered Pannonia and Dalmatia to him, and Drusus, her youngest son, who penetrated as far as the Elbe, forced the West Germans to submit to him 12-9 BC. The Parthians were supposed to return Armenia back to him. At the foot of the Alps he erected monuments to his victories over the mountain tribes; the remains of these proud structures are still visible in Susa and Aosta. Augustus suffered his greatest failure with the defeat of Varus, who lost three legions in 9 AD due to a surprise attack by the Germans led by Arminius.

In peacetime, Augustus put government affairs in order and issued many useful decrees. He cleared the Senate of unworthy elements that had penetrated into it, took care of improving morals, patronizing marriages for this purpose (Lex Julia and Papia Rorrae), also tried to restore the old religion and raised discipline in the troops and order in Rome. He decorated Rome with numerous buildings and could rightly be proud that he accepted it as brick and left it as marble. He traveled throughout his vast empire to establish order everywhere, and founded cities and colonies in many places. Grateful peoples erected altars and temples to him for this, along with the goddess Roma, and by a special decree of the Senate month Sextilis was renamed in his honor Augustus. All conspiracies against his life always ended in failure.

But in his family life, Augustus could not boast of happiness: the dissolute lifestyle of his daughter (from Scribonia) Julia caused him a lot of grief (see this next). In Libya (see this next) A. found a wife quite worthy of himself, but she is accused of not stopping at bad means in order to ensure the right of succession to Augustus for her eldest son. A. had no sons, and death stole from him not only his nephew Marcellus and grandchildren Caius and Lucius, but even his beloved stepson Drusus, who died in 9 BC in Germany. Only his elder brother remained, Tiberius, who was always antipathetic to Augustus. The latter accompanied Tiberius when he went to Illyria in 14 AD, as far as Veneventum, despite his ill health. But on the way back the illness intensified, and on August 19. he died in Nola.

Augustus used his unlimited power wisely and moderately and made the country happy with all the blessings of the world after he had led it through all the horrors of civil war. Not possessing the genius of Yu. Caesar, he, however, always clearly outlined his goal and skillfully used all the means presented to him. He respected science, he himself was even a poet and gave his name to an entire era, remarkable for the flowering of sciences and arts.); Bele, “A., seine Familie und seine Freunde” (in German, translated by Dedler, the Senate, all the most important states, posts, without formally destroying the republican system. This form of government was called the principate (see). The government organized by Augustus was reduced to protecting the interests of the trading and slave-owning nobility. The support of his power was the army, which was at the disposal of A. as the commander-in-chief (in Latin - emperor). The expansion of Roman possessions under Augustus continued (the conquest of the right bank of the Danube), but A. had to abandon attempts to conquer Germany refuse after the defeat in the Teutoburg Forest. In an effort to bring “calm” after a period of unrest, Augustus acted as a conservative in social policy and tried to artificially restore the old Roman way of life and religion.

The article reproduces text from 63 BC e. , son of Gaius Octavius ​​and Atia, daughter of Julius, younger sister of Julius Caesar. The Octavian family belonged to a rich and noble family. Octavius's father, who was first praetor and then ruler of Macedonia, died when his son was only 4 years old. However, thanks to the care of his mother and her second husband Lucius Marcius Philippus, Octavius ​​received a careful upbringing. With his talents, he soon earned the love of Julius Caesar, who was his cousin, so that the latter in 45 BC. adopted him and in his will appointed him as his main heir.

When Caesar was assassinated (15 March 44 BC), Octavian was in Apollonia, in Epirus. He immediately hurried to Italy at this news and, having learned at Brundisium about the contents of the will, decided to accept the name of Caesar along with the inheritance and at the same time strive to inherit his power, without, however, openly expressing this last desire. At that time, two parties were fighting in Rome: the Republican, which overthrew Caesar, and the party of Antony and Lepidus, which, under the pretext of revenge for the death of Caesar, sought only to seize power into its own hands. The struggle ended in victory for the last party, whose head, Consul Antony, enjoyed almost unlimited power. Arriving in Rome, Octavian demanded that the latter hand over Caesar's inheritance. Anthony at first refused, but had to yield to the wishes of the veterans and agree to extradition.

The outside peace did not last long, however, only until September 44, and when Antony left Rome to take Cisalpine Gaul from Decimus Brutus, Octavian began to recruit an army, won over the Senate and the people to his side, and led the military actions of the Senate against Antony (i.e. n. Mutinensian War). But after the end of this war, he discovered his real way of thinking and openly became hostile to the Republicans. He reconciled with Antony and Lepidus, who returned from Gaul, and at the end of October 43, in Bologna, he concluded a triumvirate with them, after which, having carried out a bloody reprisal against their enemies in Rome and Italy, they defeated the republican army, which was under the command. Brutus and Cassius in Macedonia.

Upon Octavian's return to Italy, Antony's wife, Fulvia, together with his brother Lucius Antony, initiated a new war against him, which, however, ended in their complete defeat thanks to the successes of Agrippa, Octavian's general. Fulvia's death prevented a new clash between Antony and Octavian. At Brundisi, an agreement was concluded between them (40), sealed by the marriage of Antony with Octavia, Octavian’s sister; under this treaty the latter received the west of the empire, including Gaul.

The anticipation of the birth of the savior of the world, which was supposed to mark the advent of a new, happy era, predicted by Virgil in his fourth eclogue ("shepherd's poem"), written c. 40 BC, was associated with the young emperor Octavian, whose world domination promised to bring long-awaited peace; he was given divine honors. Virgil in the Aeneid (6:791/2) recognized the fulfillment of his prophecy: Caesar Augustus is the Promised One! An altar to the Roman gods and Augustus was consecrated in Lyon, an altar to the august world was built in Rome, and in 8 BC. The temple of the god Janus, who patronized war, is officially closed - peace has come to the Roman Empire. Octavian Augustus maintains good relations with the Jews. He orders sacrifices to be made in the temple twice a day at his expense and greets Herod warmly. He strives to keep up with the introduction of the official cult of the emperor, renames the city of Samaria to Sebastia (this name of the city is the Greek equivalent of the title of Augustus) and erects a temple of Augustus there. Another temple in honor of Rome and Augustus was built in the Mediterranean port of Caesarea (also named after the emperor). The third temple of Augustus is built in Caesarea Philippi, later named after Tiberius. In the Jerusalem Temple, from now on, a sacrifice was made daily for Caesar, as before for the Persian king (1 Ezra 6:10). This is the background against which the message of the Evangelist Luke (Luke 2:1) sounds about the population census carried out by order of the emperor. August for tax calculation. This event forced Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born.

Octavian Augustus led many wars in Africa, Asia and Europe. After a long and stubborn struggle (27-19), he managed to take possession of Spain; Tiberius, the eldest son of Livia, conquered Pannonia and Dalmatia to him, and Drusus, her youngest son, who penetrated as far as the Elbe, forced him to submit 12-9 BC. and West Germans. The Parthians were supposed to return Armenia back to him. At the foot of the Alps he erected monuments to his victories over the mountain tribes; the remains of these proud structures are still visible in Susa and Aosta. Octavian suffered his greatest failure with the defeat of Varus, who lost in 9 AD. three legions due to a surprise attack by the Germans led by Arminius.

In peacetime, Octavian put government affairs in order. He cleansed the Senate, took care of improving morals, patronizing marriages for this purpose (Lex Julia and Papia Rorræa), also tried to restore the old religion and raised discipline in the troops and order in Rome. He decorated Rome with numerous buildings and could rightly be proud that he accepted it as brick and left it as marble. He traveled throughout his vast empire to establish order everywhere, and founded cities and colonies in many places. Grateful peoples erected altars and temples to him for this along with the goddess Roma, and by a special decree of the Senate the month Sextilis was renamed in his honor to Augustus. All plots against his life always ended in failure.

The dissolute lifestyle of his daughter (by Scribonia) Julia caused Octavian much grief. In Libya, Octavian found a wife quite worthy of himself, but she is accused of not stopping at evil means in order to ensure the right of succession to Augustus for her eldest son. Octavian had no sons, and death stole from him not only his nephew Marcellus and grandsons Gaius and Lucius, but even his beloved stepson Drusus, who died in 9 BC. in Germany. Only his elder brother remained, Tiberius, who was always antipathetic to Octavian.

Octavian used his unlimited power wisely and moderately and made the country happy with all the blessings of the world after he had led it through all the horrors of civil war. Without possessing the genius of Julius Caesar, he always clearly outlined his goal and skillfully used all the means presented to him. He respected science, he himself was even a poet and gave his name to an entire era, remarkable for the flowering of sciences and arts. He patronized poets, such as Horace, Virgil, etc.

His death plunged the empire into deep sadness: he was ranked among the host of gods, altars and temples were erected to him.

Used materials

• Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron
• Rinecker F., Mayer G. Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia

Augustus (Octavian Augustus, Latin Augustus; from birth Gaius Octavius) (August 23, 63 BC, Rome - September 19, 14 AD, Nola), Roman emperor from 27 BC. e., grandnephew of Gaius Julius Caesar, adopted by him in his will. Victory in 31 BC e. at Actium over the Roman commander Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, he ended the civil wars (43-31 BC) that began after the death of Caesar; concentrated power in his hands, but retained traditional republican institutions; this regime was called the Principate. Later, the term "Augustus" (Latin: exalted by the gods) acquired the meaning of the title of emperor.

The future emperor was born into the family of an obscure, but rich and respected senator, Gaius Octavius, and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar. Having lost his father at the age of four, he was brought up in the house of his grandmother Julia, and then his stepfather, a prominent politician Marcius Philip. He received an education, but due to poor health he was unable to complete it, as was expected in Rome, by serving in the army. Caesar, having seized power and having no direct heirs, brought Octavian closer to him; After the murder of Caesar, the young man adopted by him in his will and inherited his huge fortune entered into a struggle for power.

Having acted on the side of the Senate against Mark Antony in the Mutino War (43 BC), Octavian defeated and expelled Mark Antony's army from Italy. Having not received the promised rewards from the Senate, he captured Rome and entered into an alliance with Antony and another prominent associate of Caesar, Lepidus (2nd triumvirate). Having bled their opponents in Italy through mass terror (proscription) and enriched themselves at their expense, the triumvirs then defeated the troops of Brutus and Cassius (Caesar’s killers) at Philippi (Macedonia) (42 BC). Antony received the eastern provinces for the war with Parthia, Octavian - the West and Italy to provide veterans with land and money, Lepidus - Africa. Octavian took away land from 16 cities in Italy and imposed huge taxes on the rest; brutally suppressed the Italian uprising in the Perusian War (40 BC).

Then he defeated Sextus Pompey, who had strengthened himself in Sicily, and removed Lepidus from power (36 BC); restored Rome's supply of grain from overseas provinces and destroyed numerous bands of robbers and pirates. Octavian's authority in Italy grew noticeably, while Anthony's influence was undermined by an unsuccessful campaign in Parthia and his marriage to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII. In the war with Antony (officially declared on Cleopatra), the majority of Italians were on Octavian’s side. His closest friend Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa defeated the fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra at Cape Actium (31 BC). They fled to Egypt and a year later committed suicide to avoid being captured.

January 13, 27 BC e. Octavian declared in the Senate that he was placing the state at the disposal of the Senate and the Roman people. However, the Senate, which had recently been cleared of all persons undesirable to Octavian, “commanded” him to remain at the helm of government. He was decreed the position of governor of all provinces where the legions were stationed (i.e., in fact, commander-in-chief), the honorary title of first senator (princeps) and the honorary name Augustus. He was later “elected” Pontifex Maximus (head of the Roman priesthood) (12 BC) and declared “father of the fatherland” (2 BC). Thus, Augustus concentrated in his hands the highest military, civil and priestly power, which was “trusted” to him legally by the Senate and the people and consisted of a combination of various republican powers, many of which he shared with the traditional magistrates. He constantly emphasized that he was only the first citizen (princeps), superior to all others only in authority. The new political system that emerged in Rome, whimsically combining the features of a monarchy and a republic, is called by modern scientists “the principle,” and the Romans themselves called it a “republic” or “restored republic.” It lasted for three centuries, gradually evolving towards a monarchy.

Augustus pursued a policy of conquest outside and the establishment of a long and lasting peace within the empire. He conquered more countries and peoples than all other emperors combined, and at the end of his life he announced that he had brought “the entire circle of lands” (orbis terrarum) under Roman rule. In the east, Egypt was conquered (30 BC), in the west - the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula (19 BC), in the north, by the end of the reign of Augustus - lands along the southern bank of the Danube to the sources and mouth, as well as between Rhine and Elbe. For the first time, campaigns were made in Ethiopia, South Arabia and Dacia. Taking advantage of the civil strife in Parthia, he achieved the return to Rome of previously captured banners and prisoners (20 BC). The children of Parthian and other foreign kings were raised at the court of Augustus, who often elevated his proteges to the thrones of neighboring states. Under him, diplomatic ties with India were established for the first time. Having established reliable control over the kingdoms dependent on Rome, he prepared their subsequent transformation into Roman provinces.

Augustus sought to strengthen the traditional social order. Having issued the most severe laws against rebellious slaves, he allowed the submissive to seek protection from the authorities against the cruelty of their masters. Landless rural plebeians began to receive land or money to start a farm for serving in the army. The numerous urban plebs in Rome were pacified by regular distributions of free bread and magnificent shows. The provinces were treated by Augustus and his successors after the model of the good shepherd, “who shears his sheep and does not skin them.” Decurions of provincial cities could now receive Roman citizenship for service to the Roman state, and later senatorial and equestrian ranks. The nobility lost its monopoly on political power, but retained the unwritten right to the highest magistracy; gradually the nobles mixed with the new serving Italian nobility. Augustus suppressed the conspiracies of individual disgruntled aristocrats in the bud. As a result, he managed to smooth out the most acute social contradictions and establish peace and quiet in the state for many years.

Strengthening the state apparatus, Augustus created a standing army, police and bureaucracy (see Principate). The most important instrument of his policy was state propaganda, which he used more systematically and effectively than any other ruler of the ancient world. He behaved like an exemplary citizen of the “restored republic”, controlling his every action and every word, and was the first to make speeches “on paper”, so as not to say anything unnecessary. He allowed himself to be portrayed only by the best masters and only in a solemn spirit; under him, a new artistic style (“Augustian classicism”) was established, which was used to glorify “the system of the fathers restored by Augustus.”

The time of Augustus is the golden age of Roman poetry. Virgil and Horace, who glorified the "restored republic" and its "first citizen", enjoyed the constant attention of Augustus and the patronage of his close friend Maecenas. Augustus appeared before his fellow citizens in the guise of a restorer of ancient, stern and pure morals and ancient piety, as the founder of a new “golden age.” He issued strict laws against luxury, celibacy and adultery, and restored temples and ancient rituals. Augustus contributed to the emergence of the imperial cult in Rome and Italy. Perceived by his contemporaries and descendants as the happy chosen one of the gods, he became an indisputable authority and role model for most of his successors.

Augustus put family life at the service of his politics and, as a result, turned out to be “as unhappy in his personal affairs as he was happy in public affairs.” Augustus divorced his first wife, eleven-year-old Claudia, almost immediately after the wedding due to a quarrel with her stepfather Mark Antony. He left his second wife Scribonia on the very day when she gave birth to his only child, his daughter Julia (39 BC), because he quarreled with her relative Sextus Pompey and was tired of her reproaches for adultery. The third wife of Augustus, Livia, was distinguished not only by her nobility and beauty, but also by her sharp mind (she was called “Odysseus in a woman’s dress”). Not only was she not jealous of her husband, but she herself looked for young beauties for him. August lived with her for more than half a century.

Livia's children from her first marriage, Tiberius and Drusus, became reliable assistants to Augustus, but his daughter Julia was disobedient and rebellious. In an effort to ensure the transfer of power to his descendants, Augustus married her to his nephew Claudius Marcellus (25 BC), after his untimely death - to his friend and associate Vipsanius Agrippa (21 BC), who was similar in age to her as his father, and after his death (12 BC) - for his stepson Tiberius. When Tiberius, who hated her, separated (but did not divorce) from her and left Rome for many years, she openly entered into an affair with one of Antony's sons, defying Augustus' laws against adultery. Augustus banished her from Rome forever (Julia's fate was voluntarily shared by her mother Scribonia), adopted Gaius and Lucius (sons of Julia and Agrippa) to make them his successors, but they died young. Then he adopted Tiberius (94 BC), forcing him to adopt his nephew Germanicus, who was married to the granddaughter of Augustus. As a result, two direct descendants of Augustus eventually became emperors - his great-grandson Caligula (37-41) and great-great-grandson Nero (54-68), who remained in the memory of their descendants as the embodiment of monstrous tyranny.

The last decade of Augustus's life was very difficult for himself and for the entire empire. It was barely possible to suppress the grandiose uprising of the tribes of Pannonia and Dalmatia (6-9 AD), when a German uprising broke out led by Arminius, who surrounded and destroyed three legions along with the commander in the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD); After this, Augustus had to leave Trans-Rhine Germany forever. In 8, a scandal broke out with Julia the Younger, the granddaughter of Augustus, who exactly repeated the fate of her mother. At the same time, Augustus, without explaining the reasons, forever expelled one of the greatest Roman poets, Ovid, from Rome. Now he rarely left his palace and had lost much of his former flexibility and courtesy. When one day the popular assembly elected magistrates he did not like, he simply canceled the elections and appointed himself whom he considered necessary. This potential of tyranny, inherent in the system of the principate that he established, was fully revealed under his closest successors - the emperors from the Julio-Claudian dynasty. However, in general, the political system established under Augustus provided the Roman Empire with two centuries of peace and prosperity and had a profound impact on the subsequent history of European civilization.

One of the greatest people in human history was undoubtedly Gaius Octavian, who remained in history as Augustus Caesar.

The life story of Augustus Caesar is very interesting. It is not for nothing that he was called a benevolent despot.

Gaius Octavian was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Caesar adopted Guy and tried to prepare him as a worthy successor, so that he received a good education.

However, at the time of the death of Julius Caesar, Guy was only 18 years old and therefore other contenders for the throne of Rome did not see the young man as a serious opponent.

However, Guy turned out to be a serious opponent. He managed to win over to his side some of the legions of the murdered Caesar. However, most of the legionnaires supported Mark Antony.

During the fierce war for power, the rivals dropped out one after another, so that soon only two lay claim to the Roman throne - Mark Antony and Gaius Octavian. Peace was concluded between them, but not for long. Mark Antony devoted much more time to Cleopatra, but Guy Octavian strengthened his army. In the end, of course, the winner was young Guy Octavian.

As you know, Julius Caesar was killed because he wanted to make Republican Rome a monarchy. So, when Guy Octavian became the sole ruler, he did not tempt fate, left Rome as a republic and officially renounced all titles and posts. However, he retained his governorship in Spain, Gaul and Syria. And since it was in these provinces that the main Roman troops were located, power, of course, remained with Gaius. But nevertheless, the grateful Romans were happy with this state of affairs and awarded Gaius Octavian the title of Augustus.

Despite the fact that Guy Octavian was a desperate warrior, being Augustus Caesar he immediately “became kinder.”

Under Augustus Caesar, all internal conflicts of the Roman Empire were forgotten, and the “benevolent despot” began to actively change the entire structure of the Roman Empire. Augustus Caesar changed Rome's tax and financial systems, reorganized the army and created a permanent navy. It was also Augustus Caesar who founded his personal guard - the Praetorian Guard. Also, under Augustus Caesar, many roads and public buildings were built, and the city of Rome itself was significantly improved. In addition, Rome continued to expand through wars of conquest. It was under Augustus that Spain, Switzerland, Galatia (Asia Minor), most of the Balkans and other lands were annexed to the Roman Republic.

Gradually, under Augustus Caesar, they began to have a different attitude towards the monarchy, so that Tiberius, who followed Augustus, easily accepted power by inheritance.

Improvement and reorganization led to the fact that in the Roman Empire the well-being of all residents increased significantly and, as a result, art began to actively develop. It was under Augustus Caesar that Roman literature experienced its “Golden Age,” as descendants would later call it. It was under Augustus Caesar that such great poets and writers as Virgil, Horace, Titus Livy and Ovid appeared in Rome (though Ovid did not please Augustus and he expelled him from the country). And for many years after the death of Augustus Caesar, peace and prosperity reigned in the Roman Empire.

So, although Augustus Caesar, the “benevolent despot” was not a particularly outstanding commander or a particularly insidious intriguer, he was nevertheless a very smart ruler and politician, and it was not for nothing that the heyday of ancient Rome came during the years of his reign.

So it is no coincidence that Gaius Octavian Augustus Caesar is one of the greatest people in human history.