The Lives of the Caesars · Character

Augustus

The sickly heir who outmaneuvered Rome's deadliest men, Augustus turned a murdered dictator's name into the world's first imperial throne.

major

Also known as Octavia, The Deified Augustus, Ancharia, Atia, Quintus Hortensius, Caesar Augustus

First appearance: book i the deified julius

As a major figure in The Lives of the Caesars, Augustus is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The central figure of the chapter, whose rise from heir of Julius Caesar to sole ruler of Rome is chronicled in detail.

In the storyBook II: The Deified AugustusOpen this moment free

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With Claudius (family): Augustus was Claudius's great-uncle and step-grandfather, and he largely kept Claudius out of public life due to his perceived disabilities. With Tiberius (family): Augustus adopted Tiberius as his son and heir, but their relationship was strained by Augustus's insistence on Tiberius divorcing his wife to marry Julia. With Caligula (family): Augustus was Caligula's great-grandfather, and Caligula was named after him, though Augustus died before Caligula's rise to power.

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See Augustus in book i the deified julius

Character Web

63 connections

A slice of how Augustus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Rivalry

Character groups

Protagonist
Emperors and key figures

+58 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs in the stark contrast between the two irreconcilable origin storie…

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Relationships

Claudius
family · ambivalent
Augustus was Claudius's great-uncle and step-grandfather, and he largely kept Claudius… How this plays out →
Tiberius
family · ambivalent
Caligula
family · positive
Pompey the Great
rivalry · negative
Mark Antony
rivalry · negative
Otho
professional · positive
Cassius
rivalry · negative
Julius Caesar
family · positive
Vitellius
professional · positive
Otho
professional · positive
Mark Antony
rivalry · negative
Claudius
family · ambivalent
Augustus was Claudius's great-uncle and step-grandfather, and he largely kept Claudius… How this plays out →

Claudius
Augustus was Claudius's great-uncle and step-grandfather, and he largely kept Claudius out of public life due to his perceived disabilities.
Tiberius
Augustus adopted Tiberius as his son and heir, but their relationship was strained by Augustus's insistence on Tiberius divorcing his wife to marry Julia.
Caligula
Augustus was Caligula's great-grandfather, and Caligula was named after him, though Augustus died before Caligula's rise to power.
Pompey the Great
Augustus (as Octavian) was a key member of the Second Triumvirate that defeated Pompey's sons and avenged Julius Caesar's assassination.
Mark Antony
Augustus (as Octavian) was Mark Antony's bitter enemy, eventually defeating him in the civil war that led to Antony's suicide.
Otho
Otho was a courtier and companion of Augustus, though their relationship was more that of a favored subordinate than a close friend.
Cassius
Cassius was a leading conspirator in the assassination of Julius Caesar, making him a mortal enemy of Augustus (Octavian).
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was Augustus's great-uncle and adoptive father, and Augustus avenged his assassination and built his power on Caesar's legacy.
Vitellius
Vitellius's father served as a consul under Augustus, and the family had a long but unremarkable connection to the imperial court.
Otho
Otho was a courtier and companion of Augustus, though their relationship was more that of a favored subordinate than a close friend.
Mark Antony
Augustus (as Octavian) was Mark Antony's bitter enemy, eventually defeating him in the civil war that led to Antony's suicide.
Claudius
Augustus was Claudius's great-uncle and step-grandfather, and he largely kept Claudius out of public life due to his perceived disabilities.

Relationship notes

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See Augustus in book i the deified julius

In the story

Augustus appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book II: The Deified Augustus
The central figure of the chapter, whose rise from heir of Julius Caesar to sole ruler of Rome is chronicled in detail.
Book III: Tiberius
Adopts Tiberius, writes letters praising him, and his will names Tiberius as heir to two-thirds of his estate.
Book IV: Gaius Caligula
The deified first emperor; Caligula dismissed citizenship certificates of Julius and Augustus as 'old and out of date,' and demolished statues Augustus had moved.
Book V: The Deified Claudius
Stepfather of Drusus and grandfather figure; his love for Drusus and eulogy are mentioned.
Book VI: Nero
Mentioned as the one to whom Domitius (Nero's grandfather) went over; Nero later dedicated his first beard to Augustus' statue.
Galba
Augustus prophesied Galba's future power when pinching his cheek as a boy.
Vitellius
Mentioned as the emperor under whom Publius Vitellius served as a steward.
Endnotes
Mentioned in notes about his reign, laws, and building projects.

Chapter companion notes

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See Augustus in book i the deified julius

See Augustus in Book II: The Deified Augustus