Augustus, the First Roman Emperor

What happened

In 27 BCE the Senate granted Octavian the honorific name Augustus and a suite of powers. Presenting himself not as a king but as princeps — 'first citizen' — he became in effect Rome's first emperor while preserving the outward forms of the Republic.

Why it matters

Augustus founded the Roman Empire and the Principate, beginning roughly two centuries of relative stability known as the Pax Romana.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Augustus · Reputable source