Born in 63 BC as Gaius Octavius, the future Augustus had a privileged upbringing due to his noble lineage. His maternal great-uncle was Julius Caesar, a key factor that significantly shaped his destiny.
After Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, Octavius discovered he was named in Caesar’s will as his adopted son and legal heir. Demonstrating his strategic prowess, Octavius knew aligned himself with Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, forming the Second Triumvirate. Together, they set out to avenge Caesar’s death and divided the Roman Republic among themselves.
However, their ambition soon sowed discord. In 31 BC, Octavius defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, pushing Antony to suicide and declaring Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, his prisoner. With no rivals left to challenge him, Octavius took control of the entire Roman Republic, becoming its first emperor in 27 BC. From hereon, he was known as Augustus, initiating a reign that laid the foundations for a period dubbed the Pax Romana, or the Roman Peace.
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