What made Augustus the best emperor

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Footage from:

[iFeelGlee]

"augustus, the people revolt!"
"but why, i made them happy?"
"yes, theyre afraid youll quit!"

[NotAnAlex_Guy]

most countries: bro stop being a dictator
rome (during augustus reign): bro be a dictator

[TheAchilles]

Augustus also holds the record for "Roman Emperor who faced the most assassination attempts" because his bodyguards actually did their job and none of the attempts succeeded

[atom]

Remember, this guy is the only man along side Julius Caesar that has his name in the calander as a month.

[nathancook]

"There's been a rebellion sir!"
"Why? What did I do wrong?"
"They say you haven't taken enough power."

[macvena]

Augustus was referred to as Priceps. It basically meant "The First" as in first citizen, like numero uno. It was a great honor and gave us the word Prince.

[TetsuShima]

One thing that has always amazed me about Augustus is the huge change in personality he underwent from his youth as Octavian to his rise as Augustus. In popular culture, Octavian is always portrayed as an ambitious psychopath willing to commit all kinds of atrocities in order to fulfill his goals (being basically like his crazy descendant Caligula, but smarter). However, once he became Emperor, he is always portrayed as a friendly and caring man who only hurts people when he has no other choice. That said, Augustus was probably originally going to become a tyrant like Caligula or Nero, but starting a family made him understand what it's to have empathy and love for others.

[bowieupland]

"I would rather be ruled by a beautiful Lion, than by a hundred rats."
- Voltaire

[nihaalsandim]

Augustus : Its treason then !!!
The people : you are the senate !!!

[TetsuShima]

It is truly ironic how Augustus's life became more miserable the more years he spent in power and the more powerful he became, as he began to suffer tragedies one after another: His nephew Marcellus and his grandsons Gaius and Lucius died young, his daughter Julia became a nymphomaniac and his other grandson Postumus a troublemaker whom he had to exile, was forced to make his obnoxious stepson Tiberius heir to the Empire, the Teutoborg disaster ruined his plan to conquer all Germany, etc. In fact, the 1976 series "I, Claudius" did a magnificent job depicting Augustus' fall from grace. In addition, the 1968 miniseries "The Caesars" shows a depressed and tired of living Augustus who spends his last days begging outside the Imperial Temple to pass the time.

[zilhad]

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy: BOTH. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me"- Augustus, probably.

[Briselance]

Ah, when I see legionary Titus Pullo... my heart stings in bitterness.

Fare thee well, Titus. You served Rome well.

[nerox]

Other countries: Step down as dictator we hate you we want democracy!
Roman empire: Bro Augustus just become a dictator already

[TetsuShima]

"You know, Octavian? It's quite possible that, when you die, you will die without ever having been alive..."
*Mark Antony's disparaging comment to Octavian during Julius Caesar's dictatorship*

[Rawarart]

Imagine being so good, people don't want you to retire

[orlandoavogadro]

bro really brought peace, freedom and justice to his new empire

[TetsuShima]

Augustus: *Restores stability to Rome, creating a new Golden Age and an Empire that would last 1, 500 years and also leave a Legacy impossible to erase*

Poisoned figs: "And we took that personally..."

[mapoleo]

Caesar sure did know who he was picking

[xMAD_SCIENTISTx]

Julius Ceasar great nephew and adopted son

[Juandisimo]

Dictators, kings and emperors can all be abused but when they truly have the good of the people at heart then it can be one of the best things you could ever hope for. Augustus was one of the greatest rulers to live, and this proves it.