Statue of Augustus as Jupiter first half of st century BC Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus BC AD became one of a triumvirate of rulers after the death in BC of Julius Caesar his greatuncle whose dictatorship had brought an end to the Roman republic He became sole ruler in BC after defeating Mark Anthony at the Battle of Actium and in BC proclaimed himself Emperor adopting the title Caesar Augustus Octavians rule which lasted until AD ended a century of civil strife and was a period of peace and prosperity in which Rome attained the height of its imperial power Found in the collection of The Hermitage St Petersburg