Augustus was born as Gaius Octavius on September 23, 63 BC. His mother was the daughter of the sister of Julius Caesar.

Augustus first began his climb to power by serving in varius military positions under Julius Caesar. When Julius was assassinated in 44 BC, Augustus hurried back to Rome where he found the power in the hands of Mark Antony and Aemilius Lepidus. Eventually, they formed a triumvirate and defeated the assassins of Julius.

The triumvirate did not last long however, because Lepidus was killed trying to take some of Augustus's power. Augustus then shared power with Antony. War was declared on Antony when the senate learned that he lived openly with Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. He was defeated by Augustus's forces at Actium on September 2, 31 BC. After this, it was only a few years before Augustus had sole power over the empire.

Augustus had used his skills as a politician to convince the senate to give him power. One of the reasons that they let him have the power was that he had brought peace to Rome. Augustus continued this idea and did not like to have himself promoted as anything more than first citizen. He did not even have an imperial palace. Augustus had started a golden age in Rome, which was to continue until after his death in 14 AD.

One of the greatest concerns of Augustus was who would be heir to the throne. Because his current wife Livia had no children by him, he focused these plans around his daughter Julia; who had been born by his previous wife Scribonia. Unfortunately, every viable successor died before Augustus died. Livia's children were not considered because they were not of the Julian blood line. Possible successors had included: Marcellus (his nephew), Gaius, Lucius, and Agrippa Postumus (his grandsons), and Agrippa (the military commander who had won Actium). All of these people were killed, along with Tiberius's brother Drusus. This left Tiberius as the sole successor to the empire.

Augustus died on August 19, 14 AD. He was 75 years old when he died and was outlived by Livia by 15 years.