Who was the first Roman emperor, originally named Octavian, who established the Roman Empire and initiated the Pax Romana?

• A. Augustus
• B. Lepidus
• C. Octavius/Octavian
• D. Praetorian Guard

Answer: (A)

The question hinges on who established the Roman Empire and launched the era of long-term peace. Gaius Octavius, known early on as Octavian, rose to sole power after defeating Antony and Cleopatra. In 27 BCE the Senate gave him the title Augustus, and he accepted it as the first emperor, shaping the imperial system and beginning the Pax Romana, a lengthy stretch of relative stability and prosperity across the empire. The name Augustus becomes his official regnal name, while Octavian/Octavius refers to his earlier identity, the same person who transformed Roman governance. Lepidus was a fellow member of the Second Triumvirate and not the emperor, and the Praetorian Guard is a unit, not a person, so they don’t fit as the first emperor.