Augustus (63 B.C.–A.D. 14) was the first emperor of Rome. Born Gaius Octavius, he was later adopted by his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, and then known as Octavian. After Caesar’s assassination, Octavian joined forces with Mark Antony to avenge the murder. However, rivalries between the two led to civil war.
Octavian was the victor, defeating the alliance of Antony and Cleopatra. He took control of the entire Roman world, made Egypt one of its provinces, and added further territories. Octavian replaced the previous Roman republic system of government with a form of autocracy that strove to preserve the illusion of republican ideals to placate the people.
