Download Augustus Reading Passage

AUGUSTUS
Adopted by Caesar, Augustus (c.62 BC – 14 AD / Reigned 31 BC – 14 AD) had to fight for his throne. His
long rule saw a huge expansion in the Roman Empire and the beginnings of a dynasty that, over the
next century, would transform Rome, for better and worse (from pbs.org).
The man who would become one of Rome’s greatest leaders had an unpromising start in life. Despite
prophesies of future greatness, Augustus was a sickly child in a family with few connections.
His father died when Augustus was four. His prospects were bleak: Rome was dangerous, engulfed by
civil war between power-hungry factions. One of these was led by his great-uncle, Julius Caesar.
A bit of luck
Then Augustus got a lucky break. In 46 BC, Caesar won the civil war and was named dictator of Rome. To
secure his position, he needed an heir. With no son of his own, he adopted Augustus.
This was a fantastic opportunity for a young man from nowhere. Almost at once, however, Caesar was
dead – murdered by his own advisors. Augustus was just 19, but immediately threw himself into the
backstabbing world of Roman politics .
Claiming the throne
He formed a strategic alliance with Marc Antony, a successful and ambitious general. Over the next few
years, they defeated their enemies in Rome and chased the survivors to Greece, where they finished
them off in two of the bloodiest battles in Roman history.
The killing over, the empire was theirs and they divided the spoils. Augustus kept Rome, while Antony
took Egypt. There he fell under the spell of Cleopatra, Egypt’s beautiful queen.
Trouble in Egypt
Romans feared that Cleopatra wanted the throne for herself and his relationship with her made Mark
Antony a hated man in Rome. His alliance with Augustus disintegrated but, before Antony and Cleopatra
could strike Rome, Augustus attacked.
The Battle of Actium in 31 BC destroyed three-quarters of the Egyptian fleet. Cleopatra and Marc Antony
killed themselves and, finally, the Roman Empire now included the land of the pharaohs.
Local hero
Back home, Augustus was a hero. At the age of 32, he had become Rome’s first Emperor, promising to
restore peace and security.
Winning the war had been difficult, but was nothing compared to the challenge of winning the peace.
He had divorced his wife and married his pregnant mistress, Livia. Many immediately suspected him of
wanting to create a dynasty to rule Rome for generations to come.
A charm offensive
To avoid Caesar’s fate, Augustus charmed the Senate and the people by pretending to give up power.
But a series of disasters panicked Romans. They became convinced that only he could save them and
begged the Senate to vote him absolute ruler.
Augustus agreed, but did so cleverly. He convinced Romans that he was ruling in the best traditions of
the republic, but actually was an absolute ruler creating a dynasty. The Romans bought it.
Growing older
During his reign, Augustus achieved a lot. He expanded the empire, adding Egypt, northern Spain and
large parts of central Europe before invading Germany. At home, he spearheaded a conservative
approach that used the glory of Rome’s past as a blueprint for its future.
But problems remained. His moral conservatism had clashed with the public promiscuity of his daughter,
Julia. He was forced to banish her.
What’s more, Augustus was growing older and weaker. Despite his successes, the plotting continued.
Everything that Augustus had worked so hard to achieve was in danger of collapsing as he faced crisis
after crisis, both at home and abroad.
Nevertheless, Augustus clung onto power for another 10 years. When he died, in 14 AD, the Senate
declared him a god. With his two grandsons already dead, power passed to his stepson, Tiberius.
So what did he do?
Augustus had ended 100 years of civil war and achieved over 40 years of internal peace and prosperity.
His vision and power had expanded the Roman Empire to become far more than a collection of
countries. Instead, it was a diverse society and enormous marketplace in which people across Europe,
north Africa and the Middle East could trade and travel under Rome’s protection.
He had won over the Senate and founded a dynasty. But this would feature as many villains as heroes,
and would take Rome on a roller-coaster ride into assassination, insanity and terror.