| Augustus Smith's Bible Dictionary
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| Augus'tus.
(venerable). Cae'sar, the first Roman emperor. He was born A.U.C.
691, B.C. 63. His father was Caius Octavius; his mother Atia, daughter
of Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar. He was principally educated by
his great-uncle Julius Caesar, and was made his heir. After his murder,
the young Octavius, then Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus, was taken into
the triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus, and, after the removal of the
latter, divided the empire with Antony. The struggle for the supreme
power was terminated in favor of Octavianus by the battle of Actium,
B.C. 31. On this victory, he was saluted imperator by the senate, who
conferred on him, the title Augustus, B.C. 27. The first link binding him to New Testament history is his treatment of Herod after the battle of Actium. That prince, who had espoused Antony's side, found himself pardoned, taken into favor and confirmed, nay even increased, in his power. After Herod's death, in A.D. 4, Augustus divided his dominions, almost exactly according to his dying directions, among his sons. Augustus died in Nola in Campania, Aug. 19, A.U.C. 767, A.D. 14, in his 76th year; but long before his death, he had associated Tiberius with him in the empire. |
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| Taken from: Smith's Bible Dictionary by Dr. William Smith (1884) |
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