Augustus

Augustus (lived 63 BC—14 AD, reigned 27 BC—14 AD), also called Octavian, was the first emperor of Rome. He was born Gaius Octavius (or Octavian) but took the name Caesar Augustus after Julius Caesar, his uncle, died and named Octavian the chief heir in his will. Now called Augustus, he reigned from 16 January 27 BC to 19 August 14 AD, including the time of Jesus’s birth and childhood years. Eventually, Augustus was able to defeat all of his enemies and contenders for the throne. Augustus was also known for his creation of the imperial cult, which considered Roman emperors to be divine and, upon their deaths, gods to be worshipped with temples, priests, and sacrifices.