![]() Until their deaths, Agrippa's minor sons (who were also Augustus's grandsons) Gaius and Lucius remained his heirs. When Agrippa died unexpectedly in 12 BC, Augustus's plans were upset. Augustus's evident intention was to have Agrippa succeed him he arranged for Agrippa to divorce his wife and marry Julia, Augustus's daughter from his first marriage. Octavian's military right-hand-man was Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and his link with the important class of the Equites or 'Equestrian class' was Gaius Maecenas. When the Roman Pontifex Maximus Lepidus died, he also took that title, and thus became head of the Roman religion. He also created the Praetorian Guard, a 9,000 man private army for his own protection. The Imperial provinces were on the outskirts of the Empire and held the bulk of the troops. The Roman Empire was devided into Senatorial and Imperial provinces. He was given the title Princeps (first citizen) and the title Imperator by the Roman Senate. He reformed the Roman state, becoming its sole ruler, although not in name ( Rome was still officially a Republic ). To take leadership of the Caesarian forces he returned to Rome from Greece and successfully outmaneuvered Marcus Antonius for leadership of Caesar's armies and control of his political forces, ultimately defeating Antony at the Battle of Actium on September 2 ,31 BC. Together with Mark Anthony and Lepidus he formed the Second Triumvirate to rule Rome. At the time of Julius Caesar's death Octavianus was 18. In the Roman custom, Octavius took his uncle's name as part of his own. Julius Caesar made provisions in his will adopting his great-nephew Gaius Octavius Thurinus as his son and heir. He was accorded the name or title Augustus by the Senate of Rome in 27 BC, and as emperor is often referred to as Augustus Caesar ,Augustus Octavian, or simply Augustus. ![]() Before he became emperor, he is often referred to as Octavian in English speaking countries. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, ( 62 BC - August 19, A.D. ![]()
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