The Principate was the first phase of the Roman Empire, beginning when Octavian received the title Augustus from the Senate and became its first emperor. Augustus preserved the outward forms of the Republic, such as the Senate and magistracies, while holding real power himself as princeps, or first citizen. This arrangement was kept by his successors, among them the Julio-Claudian, Flavian, Antonine and Severan dynasties. The period saw the Pax Romana, a long stretch of relative peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean world, as well as expansion to the empire's greatest territorial extent under Trajan. It ended in the Crisis of the Third Century, after which Diocletian built a more openly autocratic system known as the Dominate.
Before and after
- 2 September 31 BCEOctavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium
- 12 August 30 BCEDeath of Cleopatra
- 18 August 29 BCEOrigins of Temple of Caesar
- 28 BCEOrigins of Mausoleum of Augustus
- from 27 BCE to 284 CEPrincipate
- from January 27 BCE to January 395 CERoman Empire
- 27 BCEOrigins of Pula Arena
- from 27 BCE to 180 CEPax Romana
- c. 20 BCEVirgil's Aeneid is published
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The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 1st century BCE.