Roman Emperor Baseball Card Project

REQUIRED EMPERORS


AUGUSTUS (27 B.C. - 14 A.D.)

In his will, Julius Caesar adopted his great-nephew Octavian and gave him the name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. He also left most of his fortune to the 18-year old youth. At the time of Caesar's murder, Octavian was serving in the army in Albania. When Octavian learned of Caesar's will, he hurried back to Rome. Octavian became extremely powerful due to his inheritance and was made Consul by the Senate.

Octavian joined with Mark Antony and Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate. This plan was proposed by Mark Antony in an attempt to gain power for himself. The Roman world was soon divided between Octavian and Antony (Octavian forced Lepidus out and took his share). Things did not stay quiet for long however, as Mark Antony got involved with Cleopatra which infuriated the Romans. Octavian declared war against Cleopatra, and in 31 BC, Augustus' forces under Agrippa, defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. Octavian was now master of the entire Roman world.

In Rome, Octavian was honored and gained total control by telling the Senate that he was giving up all of his titles and that the Senate could govern Rome. This was the last thing the Senate wanted as Rome needed a strong, fair and popular leader to govern. Augustus knew this and in 27 BC, the Senate named Octavian Augustus which means "the majestic one, the sacred one, the blessed one."

Augustus was now the supreme ruler of Rome. He was then able to expand Rome by adding Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Gaul, Galatia, and Judea as Roman provinces. His stepson, Tiberius, extended Roman territories to the Danube and Rhine Rivers. Augustus also built and restored many of the public buildings in Rome which pleased the people.

Augustus solved the continued problems of governing by making the Roman state a one-man rule. He created a Roman peace called the Pax Romana that lasted for two centuries, until 180 A. D. During this period there was no major war and the economy prospered. To ensure that the rule of the empire stayed in the hands of the men of his choice, Augustus arranged his own successors to the throne by adopting them as his sons. When Augustus died (of natural causes), Tiberius succeeded him as emperor. All Roman emperors that followed continued this tradition which called for a stable succession to the throne and allowed for peace in Rome.

Augustus Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius Constantine Name/Year List Pictures