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When trying to choose a single individual to be the greatest Roman Emperor, one needs to have a definition of what a Roman Emperor was. The Byzantine Empire continued to utilize Roman law and organizational techniques well into the 15th century. However, if one is speak only of Emperors of the western realms, it is difficult to say that anyone trumped Augustus Caesar.

As the first Emperor of the new state, Augustus accumulated the powers of old republican offices. Soon enough, he set about instilling a new era of peaceful prosperity across the country that he had been put in charge of. The Pax Romana refers to the period of over two hundred years of peace ushered in by the reign of Augustus. Using political power to ensure that peace was brought across the Empire, the Pax Romana was one of the most defining characteristics of Imperial Roman civilization.

There were several major breaches to the Pax Romana, but these generally consisted of acts of violence along the Roman frontier. 69 AD is sometimes called the Year of the Four Emperors, as Oth, Vitellius, Galba and Vespasian all vied for power. It was the first civil war in Rome since the death of Mark Antony. Other outbreaks of violence occurred because of the instabilities caused by the civil war. Nevertheless, much of this can be blamed on the weak leadership offered by Nero. The Pax Romana itself continued to last until around 180 AD.

The first Roman Emperor certainly had to do something right to receive a month named in his honor. Previously, August was named Sextilis. In the old Roman calendar, Sextilis was the sixth month. However, to honor him, the name was changed to August. According to quotes by Macrobius, the month was chosen because the anniversaries of several major events in Augustus Caesar’s life took place during it.