Biographical Sketch of Caesar Augustus

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December 17, 2016
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Biographical Sketch of Caesar Augustus
Introduction
This Roman has a famous relative in Julius Caesar. Augustus is born in 63BCE, in the southeast of Rome in Velletri. His mother Atia was Julius Caesar’s cousin. 42BCE finds him in Albania for military training. It is here he receives news of the murder. After the famous murder of his adopted father, Gaius Octavius Thurinus traveled to Rome to claim his role as Julius Caesar’s heir. He was Octavian until 27BCE when his name changed to Caesar Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor. Not everyone accepted him at first. He created a brilliant idea to make himself known to Romans. Augustus married Antony’s daughter to cement a truce. Augustus formed the second triumvirate with three co-leaders that stopped any resistance by murdering many equestrians and senators (Pace, 1985). Cicero is among the carnage instigated by Augustus and Antony during 43BCE. These were violent and bloody times in the Empire of Rome. These next paragraphs will add some interesting facts about Augustus, and those who would dare to oppose his methods for controlling Rome. Augustus runs many campaigns between 42-0BCE, winning most of them. He lives a long and memorable life, taking and divorcing several wives until his death in 14AD and Tiberius assumed his father’s powers. Augustus was truly the first Roman Emperor and had a hand in many history-making events in his life. He was a great leader, and many said he made great improvements in laws and living conditions, far too numerous to mention everyone on them.

The better ones had nothing to do with the expansion of the empire. He was a patron of the arts and intellectual endeavors. Roman architecture created under Augustus is still legendary. He created a new form a government of which parts are still in use today.
Augustus was not good looking as his predecessor (Pace, 1985). To present himself to the people of Rome he commissioned what is now called “Prima Porta,” a small statute that depicts Augustus with some of the features modified to reflect a serene look vaguely similar to the real face of Augustus. Today that is a regular pattern of the good of marketing. It shows all of Rome and the entire Roman Empire who is in charge. These statutes were everywhere the Emperor had interests. The statue-marketing scheme lets everyone know who the Emperor is. This was a very effective tool for controlling the natives. Good and consistent advertising works in all venues and Augustus was a head of his time. He used the statues much like newspaper and photography used today. Augustus learned to rule by emulating Julius Caesar; this earned him both respect and fear from friends and enemies alike. The statue idea was both brilliant and priceless. Augustus delegated authority whenever possible to the next in command and called his lieutenants.
Suetonius describes Augustus as refusing to listen to the apprehension of his family to not to go to Rome. He went anyway. This new government of three stayed in place for several years. Then twelve more years, as a two-man government with Augustus and Antony that designated into another war. By the end of his life, Augustus was the sole Emperor (Suetonius, 2006). Wars were the norm for any ruling party in Rome. The ones that survive, by whatever means, is the victor. Augustus lasted far longer than most; he personally conducted two foreign wars. The Dalmation war was in his early years as Emperor. The other was Cantabrian, after defeating Antony. The rest of the wars were under the control of various lieutenants, with occasional visits by Augustus (Suetonius, 2006). Augustus ordered the census that identified the era of Jesus’ birth. It was for taxation records and meant that all in the inhabited location controlled by the Roman Empire (Haberman, 1996). Julius Cesar was a dictator. Augustus Caesar was an Emperor. Dictators control everything, Emperors command but delegate authority. One is total power, while the Emperor rules democratically. Every country has some attribute of both. Augustus attributed many processes still used in governments today. He may have blazed the trail for modern democracy. Julius Caesar saw that Augustus had shown true talent as ruler. It was why he made him his primary heir to his sovereignty. Augustus did make him proud. Was the life of an emperor perfect, probably not but the empire did grow and expand across and around the Mediterranean shores, and significantly influenced by their closeness to the sea and Egypt. Those who control the seaport, control the world.
Conclusion
Life under Roman rule had both benefits and detractions. It really depended on which side those forced into the war was winning. Wars are very commonplace in those countries surrounding the Mediterranean and greatly influenced by their vicinity to the sea. The winner gets all and the opportunity to tax everything and everybody. Augustus was quite adept and what is now called advertising today. The statues he commissioned of himself portrayed his face as easier on the eyes, much like air brushing or using photo-shop software today. That was quite ingenious on his part. It probably was not his totally his idea, but one of his advisors perhaps. It is why he may have stayed in power as long as he did, thanks to great advice on brand promotion as it happens in the modern world today. Of all the Caesars after him, he was to most like his adopted father, Julius Caesar. The advertising representing him as calm and serene promoted like, trust, and possibly fear by those who knew him, which may have assisted in keeping him in power longer. That was a feat documented for years to come. It proves he had a successful reign as Emperor of Rome. Augustus created images of himself and placed them is a conspicuous location that all in the empire knew who he was. It was simply brilliant advertising for leadership.
References
Habermas, G. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ (1996), pp. 171-
173
http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/firstcensus.htm
Pace, E. SCHOLAR-DETECTIVES LEARN HOW AUGUSTUS IDEALIZED HIS IMAGE
New York Times (1984)

Suetonius, TC, THE LIVES OF THE TWELVE CAESARS (2006) Gutenberg Project Ebook
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6400/6400-h/6400-h.htm