Augustus was a title given to certain powerful
Roman politicians from the time of Octavianus (
Augustus Caesar) to the
5th century A.D. It roughly corresponds to the popular modern idea of "
Roman Emperor", although in later times it often only applied to the Western part of the empire. The name was first bestowed on Octavian by decree of the Senate. Honorary names had been awarded to successful generals in the past (ie
Pompey was awarded 'Magnus'-the great or
Scipio[?] 'Africanus' for his victories over Carthage).
Famous people with the name Augustus:
- Augustus Caesar, Roman Emperor and the first emperor to hold the title Augustus. His real name was Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus (briefly Octavian), and after becoming emperor he was known as Octavian Augustus or simply Augustus.
- Romulus Augustus, the last of the Western Roman Emperors.