Augustus (title)

• 1. Sacred Roots Of Augustus

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  In 58 BC, a provincial community in Cisalpine Gaul dedicated a shrine to the Lares. The inscription on that shrine used the word augustus as an obscure honorific with religious associations. It signified the elevation of something already sacred or divine within traditional Roman religion. Cicero wrote about this usage before Octavian ever claimed it for himself. Rome itself was said to have been founded under the auspices of Romulus and his augury. This early context connected the term to things considered divine rather than political power.

• 2. Senate Renaming In Twenty Seven Bc

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  The Roman Senate officially renamed Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus on the 16th of January 27 BC. He became known simply as Augustus after ending the civil war at Actium. His full title read Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus. This name choice may have overshadowed the legend AUG on coins issued by Mark Antony. Antony had been defeated with the help of superior augury according to some historians. The Senate rejected Romulus as a potential alternative because it would make him appear as the second founder of Rome. His position remained unique while he held consular imperium and tribunician potestas.

• 3. Shared Titles During Tetrarchy

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  Until the reign of Marcus Aurelius, the title belonged only to its single bearer. In 161 AD, Marcus Aurelius elevated Lucius Verus to Augustus so both men held the rank simultaneously. Diocletian later instituted the Tetrarchy which shared power between two Augusti and two Caesares. Constantine the Great used the phrase semper Augustus to indicate formalization in the late third century. Valentinian the Great raised his brother Valens to equal standing in 364 AD. The last emperor proclaimed in the West was Romulus Augustus who adopted the word as both title and proper name.

• 4. Women As Augusta

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  Livia Drusilla became the first woman to receive the honorific Augusta through the will of her husband. She was known as Julia Augusta from his death in 14 AD until her own passing in 29 AD. State goddesses such as Ceres, Juno, Minerva, and Ops also received this designation within the Imperial cult system. Personifications like Pax and Victoria were perceived as essentially female figures given the same title. It served as an indicator of worldly power and influence near to divinity without any higher qualification existing.

• 5. Greek Translation And Byzantine Continuity

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  In Greek speaking provinces, Augustus translated as Sebastos or Augoustos. These titles continued in use throughout the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. Heraclius introduced Basileus after victory over the Sasanian Empire during the war of 602 to 628. This reform caused Augoustos to lose importance relative to other royal titles. By the eighth century, autokratōr along with basileus became the exclusive title of the emperor while sebastos lost its imperial exclusivity. Manuel II Palaiologos appeared in a miniature from 1404 described as always Augustus despite these changes.

• 6. Holy Roman Revival

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  Charlemagne used the prefix serenissimus Augustus for his titles before Otto I assumed imperator Augustus. The standard style evolved into Dei gratia Romanorum imperator semper Augustus by the twelfth century. This formula remained in place at least through the sixteenth century. In German translation, the phrase became allzeit Mehrer des Reiches meaning ever Increaser of the Realm. Brian Boru received this distinction in the Annals of Ulster as the only Irish king to hold it. Joseph II and Maria Theresa appear on an inscription in Vienna bearing the names Augustus and Augusta respectively.