Gaius Octavius (Octavian) Imperial Roman Coins

Born in 63 BC and originally named Gaius Octavius, he was the son of Gaius Octavius the governor of Macedonia and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar.

In 44 BC, while studying, Caesar was assassinated and as he had no legitimate son to pass on his power to, his will determined that Gaius Octavius would become his heir. Mark Antony would later claim that the adoption was earned through sexual favours, a claim that was described by Suetonius as political slander.
He married three times, the first marriage to Clodia, Antony’s step daughter was never consummated and he divorced her to marry Scribonia, to who Octavius would have his only natural child Julia. The same day that Julia was born he divorced Scribonia to marry Livia.

In 31 BC the western half of the Roman Republic territory swore allegiance to Octavius and after the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra the east followed suit. After years of lack of authority however, both sides were reluctant to give Octavius complete and absolute power but his position demanded that he look after the well being of the territory. He marched on to Rome where he demanded the senate name him a consul, this was to mean that he would be required to give up personal armies but would have legal command of the legions of Rome.

In 27 BC he officially returned power to the senate which led to riots among his supporters and a compromise known as the First Settlement was reached which gave him authority over the west. This was the time that the senate gave him the title of Augustus which had more religious meaning than political.
He ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD.

Date	Event
63 BC	Pompey conquers Palenstine and makes it part of the Roman Province of Syria.
	Pompey, the distinguished military and political leader of the late Roman Republic defeats Mithridates IV of Pontus (part of modern day Turkey).
	Pompey captures Jerusalem.
	Marcus Tullius Tiro (a former slave of Cicero), invents the system of shorthand.
	Gaius Octavius is born. He was the son of Gaius Octavius the governor of Macedonia and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar.
62	Founding of Florence
62	Cicero, serving as consul, discovers plot for his ovethrow by Catilina, known for a conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic, and is defeated and killed at Pistoria. Cicero orders execution of other conspirators.
61	Gaius Julius Caesar wins his first victories in Spain.
60	Caesar returns to Rome and is elected consul. He forms the first triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus.
	"De rerum natura" (Epicurean doctrine of universe in poetic form) by Lucretius.
	Roman colonies are formed in Switzerland.
59	Titus Livius (Livy) the Roman historian is born
58	Caesar goes to Gaul
55	"De oratore" by Cicero
55	Northern Gaul is conquered by Caesar.
54	"De republica" by Cicero
	Erection of the Forum of Caesar begins.
	Caesar invades Britain. Tribal leader in soutern Britain pays tribute to Rome.
53	Crassus is defeated and killed by the Pathians at Carrhae
52	Pompey becomes consul in Rome
51	"De bello Gallico" (Account of Gallic War) by Julius Caesar
51	Caesar subdues Gaul
50	There is a rivalry between Pompey and Caesar for control of Rome.
50	The earliest form of the oboe known in Rome
49	Caesar crosses Rubican to stare civil ware ("Alea jacta est")
48	Pompey is defeated by Caesar at Pharsalia
47	Herod is governor of Galilee
	Pompey is murdered in Egypt by order of Cleopatra
	Library of Ptolemy I in Alexandria is destroyed by fire.
	"De bello civili" by Caesar
46	Africa made Roman province and Caesar returns to Rome
46	Adoption of Julian calendar of 365.25 days (leap year introduced)
45	Caesar is made dictator of Rome and adopts his nephew Gaius Octavius as heir
44	While studying, Caesar is assassinated.
43	Marc Antony, Marcus Lepidus, and Octavian together rule Rome and defeat the Brutus and Cassius.
43	Ovid, the Roman Poet is born.
42	Marc Antony has a love affair with the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. This was an unpopular affair in Rome and begins Antony's downfall.
40	Herod is appointed King of Judea
40	Octavian married three times, the first marriage to Clodia, Antony’s step daughter was never consummated and he divorced her to marry Scribonia.
38	Mark Antony returns to Egypt.
	Octavius has his only natural child Julia with Scribonia. The same day that Julia was born he divorced Scribonia to marry Livia.
	The Chin. octave is subdivided into 60 notes
36	Octavian forces Lepidus to give up his power.
36	"Laocoon" marble sculpture
34	Dalmatia a Roman Province
31	Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. He chases them to Alexandria where both Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide. Cleoptra VII is the last queen of Egypt. Egypt becomes a Roman province. The western half of the Roman Republic territory swore allegiance to Octavius and after the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra the east followed suit. Both the East and the West sides were reluctant to give Octavius complete and absolute power but his position demanded that he look after the well being of the territory. He marched on to Rome where he demanded the senate name him a consul, this was to mean that he would be required to give up personal armies but would have legal command of the legions of Rome.
30	Building of the Pantheon at Rome Begins
27	Octavian officially returns power to the senate which led to riots among his supporters and a compromise known as the First Settlement was reached which gave him authority over the west. This was the time that the senate gave him the title of Augustus which had more religious meaning than political. Octavian accepts the imperial title and becomes Augustus. This event officially ends the Roman Republic.
23	First recorded wrestling match in Japan.
23	The Millearium aureum erected in the Via Sacra (names of chief towns in the Roman empire and their distances from Rome
9	Roman army under Drusus and Tiberius penetrates Germania
8	Horace the Roman Poet Dies
6	Judea annexed by Rome
5	Jesus of Nazareth is born.
4	Herod dies and Judea is divided among his sons
4	Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, the Roman dramatist, stateman, and philosopher is born
2	"Ars Amatoria" by Ovid
5 AD	Cymbeline, king of the Catuvellauni, is recognized by Rome as "Rex Britonum"
5 AD	Ovid's Metamorphoses
6	Judea annexed by Rome
9	Roman army under Varus is destroyed by the Cherusci under Arminius in Teutoburg Forest
9	Ovid is Banished to Tomis
14	Augustus dies and is succeeded by Tiberius . Augustus was declared a God as was Julius Caesar. Augustus went to his grave mainly remembered as a bringer of peace and restorer of old Roman ways.