He found Rome made of clay and left it made of marble. As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus transformed the unruly Republic into the greatest empire the world had ever seen. His consolidation and expansion of Roman power two thousand years ago laid the foundations, for all of Western history to follow. Yet, despite Augustus’s accomplishments, very few biographers have concentrated on the man himself, instead choosing to chronicle the age in which he lived. Here, Anthony Everitt, the bestselling author of Cicero, gives a spellbinding and intimate account of his illustrious subject. Augustus began his career as an inexperienced teenager plucked from his studies to take center stage in the drama of Roman politics, assisted by two school friends, Agrippa and Maecenas. Augustus’s rise to power began with the assassination of his great-uncle and adoptive father, Julius Caesar, and culminated in the titanic duel with Mark Antony and Cleopatra. The world that made Augustus–and that he himself later remade–was driven by intrigue, sex, ceremony, violence, scandal, and naked ambition. Everitt has taken some of the household names of history–Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Antony, Cleopatra–whom few know the full truth about, and turned them into flesh-and-blood human beings. At a time when many consider America an empire, this stunning portrait of the greatest emperor who ever lived makes for enlightening and engrossing reading. Everitt brings to life the world of a giant, rendered faithfully and sympathetically in human scale. A study of power and political genius, Augustus is a vivid, compelling biography of one of the most important rulers in history.

The acclaimed historian and author of Caesar presents “a first-rate popular biography” of Rome’s first emperor, written “with a storyteller’s brio” (Washington Post). The story of Augustus’ life is filled with drama and contradiction, risky gambles and unexpected success. He began as a teenage warlord whose only claim to power was as the grand-nephew and heir of the murdered Julius Caesar. Mark Antony dubbed him “a boy who owes everything to a name,” but he soon outmaneuvered a host of more experienced politicians to become the last man standing in 30 BC. Over the next half century, Augustus created a new system of government—the Principate or rule of an emperor—which brought peace and stability to the vast Roman Empire. In this highly anticipated biography, Goldsworthy puts his deep knowledge of ancient sources to full use, recounting the events of Augustus’ long life in greater detail than ever before. Goldsworthy pins down the man behind the myths: a consummate manipulator, propagandist, and showman, both generous and ruthless. Under Augustus’ rule the empire prospered, yet his success was constantly under threat and his life was intensely unpredictable.

Analyzes the ways in which Augustus was able to manipulate the mechanisms of power during his long reign (27 BC-14 AD). Considers his relationships with Maecenas, his political advisor; Agrippa, his military commander; and the poets Virgil and Ovid.

A key figure in Roman History, Augustus (63 BC–14 AD) was the adopted son of Julius Caesar and the first to lead the Roman Empire; so mighty was he that upon his death the month previously known as Sextilis was renamed in his honor. In this volume, author Matthew D. H. Clark presents a fascinating analysis of how Augustus was able to manipulate the mechanisms of political power and use the classical world’s conception of propaganda to his advantage. Through an examination of the emperor’s relationship with Maecenas, his political advisor, and Agrippa, his great commander, as well as a host of historical personages, including the poets Virgil and Ovid, Augustus helps us understand this remarkable figure’s rise to power, as well as his lasting legacy.

During his long reign of near-absolute power, Caesar Augustus established the Pax Romana, which gave Rome two hundred years of peace and social stability, and established an empire that would endure for five centuries and transform the history of Europe and the Mediterranean. Ronald Mellor offers a collection of primary sources featuring multiple viewpoints of the rise, achievements, and legacy of Augustus and his empire. His cogent introduction to the history of the Age of Augustus encourages students to examine such subjects as the military in war and peacetime, the social and cultural context of political change, the reform of administration, and the personality of the emperor himself. Document headnotes, a list of contemporary literary sources, a glossary of Greek and Latin terms, a chronology, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography offer additional pedagogical support.

Emperor Augustus, the nephew of Julius Caesar, was one of the greatest and, some say, the most successful Roman emperor. This book presents a history of his life and deeds, so it's not a mere biography; it analyzes his activity as a ruler and a Politian. The author follows the great emperor from his succeeding to the throne after the death of Julius Caesar, pays special attention to his reforms, a new constitution, his relations with the triumvirate, and his family life and worshippers. The author takes a deep insight into different sides of Augustus's life and follows the great emperor up to his death. Although the book is historical, it is written in a light and understandable manner and contains some interesting details, making it an easy, informative, and captivating read.

Proceedings from the conference ‘AUGUSTUS. 23 September 63 BC – 19 August 14 AD – 2000 years of divinity’ held in Kakow, 2014. Papers deal with a variety of topics ranging from architecture, urban issues and painting to fine art represented by glyptics and numismatics.