Caesar Augustus (B.C. 27 – A.D. 14)

Caesar “Augustus”, which means “reverend”, was a title granted to Octavian who was born just before sunrise on September 23 in B.C. 63. He became “the grand-nephew and adopted heir of Julius Caesar, by the Roman senate in 27 B.C., when it confirmed his powers to rule.” Augustus lost his father at the young age of eight years old and when he was 12 it is reported that he gave the funeral oration in honor of the his grandmother, Julia, who had then passed as well. By the time he was 16 he was awarded military decoration and it was clear that this young man was destined to be powerful leader in Rome. “He first gained power with Antony and Lepidus at Julius Caesar’s death in 44 b.c. He gained sole control at the Battle of Actium in 31 b.c., where he defeated Antony and Cleopatra, who both committed suicide. This brought Egypt into the system of Roman provinces. He thus founded the Roman Empire and ruled with popular acclaim.” Augustus is one of the most well-known emperors to the Christian audience if for no other reason than he was the one in power when Jesus was born. In Luke 2:1-2 Luke places Jesus’ birth during Caesar Augustus’s reign, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. His fame is also due the fact that he was the first sole ruler of the Roman Empire, that he was well liked by the people and that he lived a long life with an undisputed rule and died of natural causes.

Tiberius Caesar Augustus (A.D. 14-37)