At the age of nineteen, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army by means of which I restored liberty4 to the republic, which had been oppressed by the tyranny of a faction.
— Res Gestae Divi Augusti
Augustus, born Gaius Octavius and also known as Octavian, was the founder of the Roman Empire and the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. His reign began an era of imperial peace, the Pax Romana, when the Roman world was largely free of armed conflict.
His great-uncle, the dictator Julius Caesar, named him primary heir in his will. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Octavian inherited his estate and took his name, then seized power by marching on Rome in 43 BC and became its youngest elected consul. With Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus he formed a triumvirate that won the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. The principate, the style of government he established, lasted until the Crisis of the Third Century.
His great-uncle, the dictator Julius Caesar, named him primary heir in his will. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Octavian inherited his estate and took his name, then seized power by marching on Rome in 43 BC and became its youngest elected consul. With Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus he formed a triumvirate that won the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. The principate, the style of government he established, lasted until the Crisis of the Third Century.
Have I have played my part well in the comedy of life? If so, clap your hands and dismiss me from the stage with applause.
If I have played my part well, clap your hands, and dismiss me with applause from the stage.
Young men, hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was young.
If we could survive without a wife, citizens of Rome, all of us would do without that nuisance; but since nature has so decreed that we cannot manage comfortably with them, nor live in any way without them, we must plan for our lasting preservation rather than for our temporary pleasure.