Emperor Augustus

By katehaberl
  • 44 BCE

    Assassination of Caesar

  • Period: 44 BCE to 43 BCE

    Power struggle

    Octavian, Marc Antony, and Lepidus fought each other for leadership of the Roman Republic in the form of a civil war. The power vacuum was caused by the assassination of Julius Caesar.
  • 43 BCE

    Formation of the Second Triumvirate

    The Second Triumvirate was formed of Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus.
  • 40 BCE

    Division of the Republic

    The triumvirate divided the Republic into 3 parts; Antony took the east part of the empire, Octavian the west and Lepidus got Africa.
  • 37 BCE

    Renewal of Second Triumvirate

    The Second Triumvirate was renewed, however this time without Lepidus, who went into internal exile in Rome and became the chief priest. This meant the Second Triumvirate was composed of Marc Antony and Octavion.
  • 31 BCE

    Cleopatra and Marc Antony commit suicide

    The suicides of Marc Antony and his wife Cleopatra left Octavion as the only ruler of the Roman empire.
  • 31 BCE

    Battle of Actium

    Octavion defeated the forces of Marc Antony and Cleopatra in this battle.
  • Period: 30 BCE to 14

    Augustus is ruler of the Roman world

  • 27 BCE

    Octavion's address to the Senate

    Octavion announced to the senate that he was returning control of the Republic to the Senate, but kept the powerful provinces with strong militaries for himself, leaving the less prominent ones to the control of the senate.
  • 27 BCE

    Octavion becomes Augustus

    Octavion was awarded the name Augustus, which was semi-divine, for his work returning the republic to the control of the senate.
  • 23 BCE

    Augustus becomes Tribune of the people

    Augustus' new position gave him the power of the rights of the ordinary Roman in addition to his control of the republic through the senate.
  • 12

    Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus

    After the death of Lepidus (who had held the position prior to his death), Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus, making him chief priest and giving him control over the religious beliefs of the Roman Republic. Augustus used his position to portray himself as semi-divine and linked the worship of Rome to his divinity.