AUGUSTUS
                            (63BC -14AD)
               
Augustus was the first of the Roman Emperors. His original name was Caius
Julius Caesar Octavianus - and he finally became J.Caesar's asopted son
and heir. Following Caesar's murder, Octavian formed with Mark Anthony and
Lepidus a triumvirate to attack the opposition which had murdered his
adopted father. Mark Anthony's victory over Brutus and Cassius in 42BC
brought the Republic to an end, however war between Octavian and Anthony
resulted in the latter's suicide (see Cleopatra).

After his return to Rome in 29BC he was given the title AUGUSTUS meaning
"venerable". He fixed Rome's frontiers for many centuries to come and
established the first imperial dynasty - the Julian/Claudian line.
He made the army into a proper profession and regulated the legions.
In Rome he established water supplies, fire brigades, a police force and
other public works.

After 12BC, his reign was marked with a number of disasters both domestic
and military, however his rule is known as the Augustan age and showed
Rome at the height of it's power. He was succeded by Tiberius.