How did Augustus become emperor?

Answer 1

Augustus, who was then known as Gaius Octavius, was Julius Caesar's great-nephew. Julius named Octavius/Augustus as his heir.

When Julius Caesar was assassinated by the conspirators headed by Brutus, it threw Rome into a political turmoil. Rome had been a Republic before Julius' ascent to power, and Julius had effectively nullified the power of the Senate. Some of the members of the Senate wanted to return to a Republican form of government, others wanted to grab whatever power they could. There was great fear that the Roman empire would descend into civil war.

Octavius/Augustus formed an alliance with Marc Antony, who had been one of Julius' trusted compatriots and a soldier in his own right, and Marcus Lepidus, a general of renown and a noteworthy public figure. The three of them combined to form what became known as the Second Triumvirate and worked together to stave off challenges from other factions.

When the Triumvirs had secured their position of leadership of Rome and consolidated their power by eliminating threats from other challengers, it was inevitable that they would turn on each other. Lepidus was never much of a factor, quickly seeing that his best chance of surviving was to yield power to Antony and Octavius. Antony sought an alliance with Cleopatra in Egypt to fight against Octavius, but he was not successful.

Octavius assumed the sole leadership of the Roman empire in 31 BC and in 27 BC was awarded the honorific name of "Augustus" by the Senate. He ruled the Roman empire until his death in 14 AD, having the title of Imperator (Emperor), which was a military title.

Upon his death in 14 AD, his stepson Tiberius, son of his second wife Livia, assumed the title of Emperor.

Answer 2

Simply because he was a Caesar. That's how they all became emperors, even Caligula. He inherited the title.

Answer 3

He stayed home and played politics while Marc Anthony was away playing with Celopatra.

Answer 4

how?