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==The Rise of Octavian and the End of the Roman Republic==
Perhaps the most important result of the death of Caesar was the rise of his grand-nephew Octavian. He had not been particularly close to the great general and politician, but he was one of his last living male relatives. It seemed that the victor of so many battles saw something in the young man and Octavian was to prove his grand-uncle right. The death of Caesar cleared the way for the rise of Octavian and he was to prove to be one of the most calculating and brilliant politicians in the entire Roman era <ref> Goldsworthy, Adrian. Augustus: First Emperor of Rome (Yale, Yale University Press, 2010), p. 213 </ref>. The young Octavian was able to manipulate the situation to make himself master of the Roman world. For example, he goaded Mark Anthony into a war and he defeated him at the Battle of Actium. This was to make him master of the entire Roman world. Octavian learned from the assassination of Caesar and he did not make the same mistakes as the legendary leader. He was very respectful to the Senators and observed all the procedures. This was to placate the sensibilities of the Roman aristocracy. Octavian made sure that he did not goad the senators’, but he also controlled them <ref> Suetonius, Life of Augustus, cvii</ref>. Octavian Caesar's heir slowly concentrated power into his own hands and created an Imperial system under the guise of a Republican system. He safeguarded his position by sharing power with the Senators and the rest of the Roman aristocracy. Many welcomed the stability that he offered, and he governed the Empire wisely. However, he was also slowly undermining the Empire. His Octavian's pre-eminence was confirmed when he was granted the title Augustus. Such was his hold on power that he was able to pass on his position to his designated heir and established the first Roman Imperial dynasty. For this, Augustus, is regarded as the first Roman Emperor and the founder of an Imperial system. The assassins of Caesar who killed him to save their beloved Republic, simply paved the way for the rise of the man who was to quietly dismantle the Republic<ref> Osgood, p. 452</ref>.
[[File: Ass of Augustus.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A statue of Augustus]]