Augustus and the Roman Peace: The First Emperor

The chapters

1. Chapter 1 · 5 min · Free

   The Heir Nobody Feared

   A murdered dictator, a sickly teenager, and a will that changes everything.

   Sources: Res Gestae 1–2; Suetonius, Augustus 8–13; Appian, Civil Wars 3–4; Plutarch, Antony 16–22; Cicero, Philippics 13

2. Chapter 2 · 5 min · Free

   Actium

   Two Romans, one queen, and a sea battle that decides who rules the world.

   Sources: Plutarch, Antony 25–86; Cassius Dio 50–51; Res Gestae 25–27; Josephus, Jewish War 2.386

3. Chapter 3 · 5 min

   The First Citizen

   He gave Rome back its Republic. That was the trick.

   Sources: Res Gestae 20, 34–35; Suetonius, Augustus 28, 31, 99–100; Tacitus, Annals 1.2–3; Cassius Dio 53

4. Chapter 4 · 5 min

   All Roads Lead to Rome

   Roads, ships, water and Latin: the machine behind two centuries of peace.

   Sources: Strabo, Geography 5.3.8; Suetonius, Augustus 23; Tacitus, Annals 1.11 and 15.38–44; Tacitus, Agricola 21, 30; Cassius Dio 56, 68

5. Chapter 5 · 5 min

   Walls and Wisdom

   One emperor builds a wall. Another writes notes to himself by lamplight. Then the plague comes.

   Sources: Historia Augusta, Hadrian 11 and Marcus 17, 21; Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 1, 2, 6.30; Cassius Dio 71–72; Gibbon, Decline and Fall 3

Who’s who

The people you meet. Each one is a hero card you can collect.

• CiceroOrator · Consul · Voice of the Republic
• AgrippaAdmiral · Builder · Best Friend
• LiviaWife · Adviser · Augusta
• ArminiusPrince of the Cherusci · Roman Officer · Rebel
• Marcus AureliusEmperor · Stoic · Philosopher
• AugustusHeir · Victor · First Citizen

What you’ll be able to tell

This story belongs to the journey “The Empire”. By the end of it, you can tell why July and August are named after two Romans, and what actually happened in 476.

Stories in this journey

1. Augustus and the Roman Peace: The First Emperor
2. The Fall of Rome: Rome Divided