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With the end of the civil war, Octavian now ruled Egypt and the
entirety of the Roman territories. Octavian, called Augustus as of 27
BC, returned to Rome and was welcomed people. He had brought peace,
and that made him very popular. He turned down the obvious titles and
positions offered to him, and instead amassed his powers discreetly,
earning him even more favour with the people and senators of Rome. He
was named "father of the country" and given nearly unending
power over Rome. He was now the ruler of an empire. The eastern
territories of the empire provided little trouble, fearing the
greatness of the undivided empire. Even the Parthians were no longer
willing to combat the mighty Roman Empire, as proved by their
surrender of the prisoners taken during Crassus' battles in 53 BC.
Augustus moved the legions to the outskirts of the empire, keeping
them busy with border skirmishes and conquests while also ensuring
that no aspiring general could march on Rome and take it from him. He
annexed much of the north Sahara, as well as land east of Egypt and
the Euphrates river. He waged campaigns in Spain and Germania, his
close relatives and friends making very trustworthy generals. The
small portion of Spain that had remained untamed was conquered, and
war was waged across Germania. By 9 AD the campaign in Germania
seemed to be moving along with great success. |
