Augustus Caesar (September 23, 63 BCE – August 19, 14 CE), born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was the first Roman emperor, reigning from 27 BCE until his death. Adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar, he rose to power after Caesar’s assassination, defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium (31 BCE). His reign ushered in the Pax Romana, transforming Rome into an empire with lasting legal, architectural, and cultural legacies.
