Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome (27 BC AD 14), brought peace and prosperity to his city after decades of savage civil war. This selection from Cassius Dio's Roman History gives the fullest description of that long struggle and ultimate triumph detailing the brutal battles and political feuds that led to the collapse of Rome's 400-year-old republic, and Augustus' subsequent reign as emperor. Included are accounts of military campaigns from Ethiopia to Yugoslavia, and of long conflict with Antony and Cleopatra. With skill and artistry, Dio brings to life many speeches from the era among them Augustus' damning indictment of Antony's passion for the Egyptian queen and provides a fascinating account of the debate between the great general Agrippa and Maecenas on the virtues of republicanism and monarchy.

Author Biography

John Carter retired from a Senior Lectureship at Royal Holloway college, University of London, in 1992. He collaborated with Ian Scott-Kilvert on Cassius Dio's "The Roman History" (1987) for Penguin Classics, and other published work includes a history of Augustus' rise to power, "The Battle of Actium" (1970), and editions of Suetonius' life of Augustus, "Divis Augustus" (1982), and of Julius Caesar's own account of his war with Pompey, "Civil War" (2 vols., 1991 and 1993).