Ruling with an iron fist, Charlemagne had any non-converts under his rule put to death. A devout Christian, Charlemagne gave money and land to the Christian church and protected the popes. Pope Leo III in 800 A.D. …show more content…
He was born into an equestrian family. His father was the first in the family to hold a position of power in the Roman senate but died when Octavius was four. Octavius' great-uncle, Julius Caesar having no children of his own and desperately in need of an heir, took in Octavius as his adopted son. Upon Caesar's assassination, Octavius, by then known as Octavion was to be emperor of the Roman Empire as was Caesar's will.
Augustus' rise to power was not without opposition. His main rivals were Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII and Augustus was forced to battle both their armies. When the fighting was over, Augustus formed the second triumvirate, creating a balance of power, with defeated rivals Antony and Lepidus. Augustus ruled the empire in the west, Antony the east and Lepidus ruled in Africa. After Lepidus fell to the wayside, the triumvirate was no more and Augustus ruled the whole of Rome while Antony ruled in Egypt alongside his lover