First of the Roman emperors. He was the son of a senator who married a niece of Julius Caesar, and he became his great-uncle's adopted son and principal heir. 
Following Caesar's murder, Octavian formed with Mark-Antony and Lepidus the triumvirate which divided the Roman world between them, and proceeded to eliminate the opposition. Antony's victory in 42 BC over Brutus and Cassius brought the Republic to an end.
Soon after Antony became enamoured of Cleopatra and spent most of his time at Alexandria, while Octavian consolidated his hold on the western part of the Roman dominion.
War was declared against Cleopatra, and the naval victory at Actium in 31 BC left Octavian in unchallenged supremacy, since lepidus had been forced to retire.
After his return to Rome in 29 BC, Octavian was created princeps senatus, and in 27 BC he was given the title of Augustus (venerable). He was an enlightened and generous patron of literature and the arts.
It seems that his homosexual activities were limited to his youth, at which time he was quite effeminate. Others say that he had a relationship with Marcus Tullius Cicero that lasted for 14 years.
The month of August was named after him.
