Imperator Caesar Augustus
...rse of his career, he put an end to the decay of the Republic and established a new basis for Roman government that would stand for three centuries. This system, called the ‘Principate’ was far from flawless, but it provide the Roman empire with a series of rules which presided over the longest period of unity, peace, and prosperity that western Europe, the Middle East, adn the North African seaboard have known in their entire history. Auhustus was a man of many emotions, from ruthless and forgiving, brazen and tactical. C. Octavius (later Augustus) was born on September 23, 63 B.C., the son of a man from Velitrae who had teeached the praetorship before dying unexpectingly when Octavius was four. His father Octavius had earned the hand of Atia, daughter of Julius Ceaser’s sister, Julia, and this seemingly remote family link between the young Octavius and Caesar was to play a great role in shaping the rest of Octavius’ life. The nature of teh relationship between Ceasar and young Octavius is not clear. However, Ceasar took Octavius under his wing and trained him to be his successor. Augustus’ great achievement was teh restoration of law and order afte...