AUGUSTUS (OCTAVIANUS CESAR), au-rd tus oc-tie-vi-d-nus I. Born 23rd Sep tember, 63 B.C., son of a senator, Octavius, and Accia, the sister of Julius Cmsar, was adopted (and Octavius changed to Octavianus) by his uncle Julius Ca•ar (the Dictator), Octavius, his father, having died when Augustus was but four years old. When Julius Cmsar was murdered, Augustus (then eighteen) hurried from Apol lonia to Rome, ingratiated himself with the senate and people, and two years after became consul. He fought with the consuls Hirtius and Pansa against Antony ; but seeing that the Senate wished to weaken them both, he became reconciled, and formed with him and Lepidus the Second Triumvirate: in the pro scriptions that followed more than 300 senators and 2,000 knights, including Cicero, fell. In the division of the provinces by the Triumvirs, Augustus retained the important provinces of the West. The 'Triumvirs then proceeded against the partisans of Brutus and the Senate, and effected the overthrow of the republican forces at Philippi, 42. On his return to Italy, Augustus divided among his soldiers the lands of the proscribed and of many innocent per sons ; among the latter was Virgil, who had his restored to him ; and the alliance with Augustus was strengthened by Antony di vorcing Fulvia and marrying the sister of Au gustus. Fulvia, who had vainly tried to stir up Augustus against Antony, then unsuccessfully tried to raise a faction, headed by L. Antonius, her husband's brother, against Augustus, 40, who made them surrender in Perusla ; and in 36 he conquered Se.ctus Pompey in Sicily.
Octavia being soon after divorced by Antony for Cleopatra, Augustus marched against him, and completely defeated Antony's and Cleo patra's forces at Actium, 3t; Augustus fol lowed them into Egypt, 3o, besieged Alex andria, and honoured with a magnificent funeral Antony and Cleopatra, who had corn mined suicide to avoid being led in triumph : `le returned to Rome, and closed the gates of the temple of Janus, peace being established.
By his generals he warred with the Cantabri and Astdres, 27, and personally went to Syria, 20, to receive the standards of Cras,ns and Sntony from Phraates. He died at Nola, A.D. 1.1. He was an excellent emperor, and ..isited all the provinces except Africa and Sardinia, and enacted many salutary laws : he carefully guarded against offending the Romans by assuming the regal title, so hateful to them, and contented himself with the titles of Int Pro ' to)-, or commander-in-chief (3o mc.), Prin'ceps Sins? tfis (28), perpetual Tribn'nus Pk' bis (23), perpetual Consul (to), perpetual Censor (to), and Pon'afix Afaxlmus (r2). His court was distinguished for its support of literature ; he himself was thoroughly ac quainted with Greek, and wrote some tragedies, &c. Augustus was married three times,—to Claudia, Scribonia, and Livia : he had only one child, the licentious Julia, by Sciibonia; and Julia's sons, C. and L. Cmsar, were in tended as his successors, but died before him. He left his fortune chiefly to his stepsons (his adopted sons) Tiberius and Dnisus, and made donations to the army and the people. He was succeeded by Tiberius. 2. The name was given to the imperial successors of Augustus as a personal, and Cmsar as a family dis tinction : later that of Cmsar was conferred on the second person in the state,—the Heir Ap parent.