Augustus 27 BC - AD 14 Emperor Augustus of Rome was born with the given name Gaius Octavius on September 23, 63 B.C. He took the name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian) in 44 B.C. after the murder of his great uncle, Julius Caesar. In his will Caesar had adopted Octavian and made him his heir. Octavian was a shrewd, brilliant and astute politician. Through cold, hard political calculation he able to achieve power in Rome. At the time of Caesar's assassination, Octavian had no official power. Only after he marched on Rome and forced the senate to name him consul, was he established as a power to be reckoned with.