Augustus was the first Roman Emperor and ruled Rome for 43 years. His given name was Gaius Octavius. After Caesar died, he inherited the names Julius Caesar. The name Augustus was given to him by the senate. Having that name was considered an honor. His full name was Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus.
As Augustus was getting older, he altered his focus to the German invaders from the north and the east for 25 years. During that time, the senate revived his imperium, the contract of the amount of years he would stay as ruler of Rome, every five to ten years. During the last five years of his life he refused to appear in public, but agreed to a contract of ten more years. Because he had no sons, Augustus decided to share his power with his stepson, Tiberius. Tiberius was one of Livia's sons from her first marriage.
Augustus' reign was proceeded by approximately 100 years of civil war. He suspended the fighting and replaced it with pacification. In 12 BCE Augustus was named Pontifex Maximus (greatest priest), the head of the Roman State Religion.
In 30 BC, when Augustus conquered Egypt, the month Septimus was changed to August to be named after him.
-Leah F. '03, Germantown Academy