ROM039 - The Emperor Augustus
Caesar’s adopted heir, Gaius Octavius was born into one of Rome’s noblest families and was named by Caesar himself to be his successor. Upon taking power and renaming himself Augustus the young ruler dramatically enlarged the Empire around the Mediterranean and into Africa. He completed the conquest of Hispania, (present day Spain) and developed a broad network of fine roads connecting the far flung parts of the Empire. Much of Rome itself was also rebuilt and improved during his reign which included creating a police force and a fire-fighting service. Augustus died in AD14 at the ripe old age of 75, possibly from natural causes but probably by poison, given to him by his wife Livia to ensure that her son, Tiberius would succeed him. Such was life (and death) in Ancient Rome!