Intro
Best: Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian Augustus would be among the best Roman emperors, if not the best. Under his rule, he turned Rome a great empire. Prior to his ascension as emperor in 27, the Roman Republic had been plagued by civil wars and other problems and the Republic began to crumble. With the conclusion of the civil war between Augustus, then known as Octavian, and Mark Antony, Octavian proved his virtue and abilities. Between his victories, his place as Caesar’s adopted heir, and the legions maintained loyalty to him, Octavian was quite popular. In 27, the Senate, in their respect for him, bestowed upon Octavian several titles, which further cemented his power. The titles, Augustus, Imperator, and Princeps both granted him much power and removed him from image of a monarchy. This began the great reign of the first Emperor of the Roman Empire.
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One major reform was that of the Senate. The Senate’s numbers were reduced to a more manageable 600 members. Also, Augustus gained titles of Pontifex Maximus and Pater Patriae. Through his works, Rome began to heal from disastrous wars in the year’s prior. He created a new tax collection that helped Rome grow economically. Augustus even encouraged population growth through his reforms. His lack of an official rule on dynastic succession left a great impact on the legacy of the Principate, however. Overall, Augustus proved to be a great emperor through his reforms and his ability to come out on top during the multiple crises in