Millions of people played an important role in the remarkable history of Rome in the first century AD. Augustus is above all others.
Born into an unremarkable family, Augustus got a break when his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, adopted him. When Caesar was assassinated soon after, Augustus threw himself into the deadly mix of Roman politics.
Allying with Marc Antony, they killed their enemies and divided the empire between them. Augustus took Rome and Antony took Egypt, where he met Cleopatra. It made him a threat. Augustus was not prepared to take any risks and attacked first. His army destroyed most of the Egyptian fleet, and Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide shortly afterward.
Back home, Augustus was a hero and soon became Rome's first emperor. Abroad he expanded his empire enormously, while domestically he played a cautious political role, using popular acclaim to strengthen his power.
Augustus was a complex man: brutal but compassionate, austere but popular. In public he was a religious and moral conservative, presenting himself as a pious man. In private, his daughter, Julia, had a series of affairs.
But above all, Auguste was determined. When Julia's behavior became a scandal, he banned her from Rome for life. Shortly after, the famous poet Ovid published indecent poems: he too was banned for life.
Against all odds, Augustus reigned as emperor for over 40 years, surviving plots, rebellions and mutinies. When he died, he was declared a god. His reign created the image of imperial Rome that still endures today. He was the emperor by whom his heirs would be judged.
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