Emperor Augustus (Note: Cesare is his name in Italian) was born on Palatine Hill near the Roman Forum but was raised primarily in Velletri, the hometown of his father, Gaius Octavius. Gaius became a Roman senator and later governor of Macedonia. Augustus’ mother, Atia, was the niece of Julius Caesar. Augustus was 4 when his father died and a a year later his mother married the former governor of Syria, Lucius Marcius Philippus, who became Augustus’ political role model.

Augustus was mostly raised by his grandmother, Julius, Julius Caesar’s sister. His tutor was a Greek slave who became so important in Augustus’ life, he later freed him from slavery. At 16, Augustus tried unsuccessfully to join Julius Caesar’s campaign in Africa. But so impressed by Augustus’ fortitude, Caesar allowed him to walk with him during his triumphant parade into Rome.

Two years later, when Augustus was only 18, Julius Caesar named him his principal heir. Augustus would become Ancient Rome’s first emperor as it transformed from a republic to an empire. His legacy that has lasted two millennia is he led a government that maintained mostly peace for two centuries. He transformed Rome into the greatest city in the world. He gave it law enforcement and established a political office. He built a standing army and roads. His legacy is so great, his adoptive surname, Caesar, became the permanent title of future Roman emperors.