Реферат: Caesar Augustus Essay Research Paper Augustus was
The Second Triumvirate finally gained enough money from the
executions, and defeated the opposing armies. They were now in complete
control of Rome. After their defeats, they divided the Roman empire amongst
themselves. Antony was ruler of Gaul (now present day France) and all the land
east of Italy. Octavian was ruler of north Africa, Sicily, and Spain. All three
ruled the Italian peninsula together. For several years, all went well, until
Lepidus was forced to retire. The rivalry between Octavian and Antony began
again. The feud was not only political, but personal also. Fierce hatred for one
another began when Antony fell in love with Caesar s former lover, Cleopatra.
Antony was already married to Octavian s sister, Octavia. Antony divorced
Octavia, and planned to wed Cleopatra. Cleopatra had a child, and claimed it to
be the son of Caesar. She named him Caesarion. Octavion completely
disputed the child to be that of Caesars. After much tension, came the Battle of
Actium. Octavian s and Antony s fleets met near Actium, Greece on September
3, 31 BCE Though Antony s ships were more armed, Octavian s fleet won. The
following summer, Octavian s army invaded Egypt and captured Alexandria.
Caesarion was killed, and Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide within a
year. Octavian was now the undisputed ruler of the Roman Empire.
Octavian was a great politician. He realized that the Roman people would
oppose his individual rule if it did not appear as if the Republic still existed.
Octavian had to make it seem as if the Senate still had power. In order to keep
the people s support, he did not take any names such as emperor or king.
Instead, he took the name Augustus, meaning honored, or revered one.
Augustus eventually had complete control of everything from the army to the
government. He required every soldier to take an oath of loyalty not to Rome,
but to Augustus, himself. But, Augustus was an excellent ruler. He reformed
Rome, and made improvements to the empire in many ways. He established a
public police department, and a fire brigade to make Rome safer. He repaired
Roman aqueducts, and distributed free grain wherever there was a famine. He