2,000 YEARS OF THE DEATH OF EMPEROR AUGUSTUS

Augustus, the first emperor of Rome

During the year 2014 Europe has celebrated several anniversaries of important historical events which took place in our continent. Everybody knows that the First World War began a hundred years ago because there have been many TV programmes and political events about that. Furthermore, 2014 is also the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War and the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (it was happened in 1989). But, unfortunately, its unknown for most of the people the anniversary of the death of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, on 19th August 14 AD

Gaius Octavius was born in Rome in 63 BC and he was adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar who chose him as his heir in 45 BC. The following year, in 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assessinated by several senators. One of the Caesar's generals, Mark Antony, ordered the murders to leave Rome. However, Octavius, 19 years old, decided to recover his uncle's rights to rule the Republic of Rome and this fact caused problems with Mark Antony.

Octavius and Mark Antony were forced to come to an agreement when some of the murders of Caesar take control of the Eastern provinces of Rome. Both Octavius and Mark Antony, together with Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate in 43 BC. They defeated the republicans (name to refer the murders of Caesar) and divided the territories ruled by Rome: Mark Antony received the Eastern provinces and the Gaul, Octavius take control of Italy and the Western provinces (after that, he also received the Gaul) and Lepidus was in charge of the African provinces.

In spite of this agreement, Octavius could take Roma under his control. In 33 BC, he was elected consul whereas Mark Antony fell in love with the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Octavius took advantage of this situation because his sister was the Mark Antony's wife so he used this excuse to declare war on Mark Antony's territories. He persuaded the Roman Senate of the bad intentions of Mark Antony who, according to Octavius, wanted to separte the Eastern provinces from the rest of the Roman Empire. Even Lepidus supported the Octavius' theory so everybody in Rome thought that the general wanted to destroy the Republic.

Octavius organised a navy steered by Agripa which defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. Mark Antony and Cleopatra ran away but then, they comitted suicide. The following year, Octavius conquered Egypt and, after driving Lepidus into exile, he united all the Roman territories in his hands. Octavius ruled over the whole Empire but the Empire didn't exist yet because it was still a Republic!

Some years later, in 27 BC, the Senate elected Octavius as Augustus (which means venerable or majectic) and Princeps (the first citizen of Rome). Finally, he was elected Emperor of Rome. But, why?

Octavius had lived in a caotic Rome where several generals (such as Pompeius or his father Julius Caesar) had wanted to take the Republic under their control but this had caused cruel civil wars. He realised that it was necessary to take the power without destroying the rights of the Senate, the Army and the people of Rome. And Octavius did it: he brought peace to Rome and he respected the privileges of all different groups of Roman society.

Because of that, Augustus was considered the Emperor of Peace and the Saviour of Rome. He transformed the old Republic and adapted its institutions to new circumstances. He reorganized the Roman government, the provinces and the tax system. He also ordered Roman citizens to respect the old customs and the Roman religion. One of the main aims of the Augustus' government was to bring peace to all the provinces of Rome. He also conquered new territories which were annexed to the Empire, such as the Northern lands of Hispania. Peace brings progress, prosperity and wealth to Rome so this period is called "Pax Augusta".

Augustus respected the rights of the Army and increased the salary of the soldiers. He created a permanent Army of twenty eight legions and used the Caesar's system to distribute fields among veterans. Augustus also had good realtions with the Senate in spite of being firmly controlled by the Emperor because the aristocracy kept his privileges.

The time of Augustus was also brilliant in culture, literature and economy after the caos caused by the civil war. When he died, 2,000 years ago, on 19th August 14 AD, the Roman Empire (it was already a real Empire) was consolidated and the following two centuries were really brilliant. His stepson, Tiberius, inherited the Empire and he tried to keep on the way of government created by his father although it was not an easy work and he found some problems.

Nowadys, Octavius Augustus is thought to be the creator of the Roman Empire and this is the reason why Italy and Europe remember the anniversay of his death.   

Ruins of Imperial Rome