The Ralston College Podcast Founding an Empire: Lessons from Augustus with Dr Barry Strauss
Jan 28, 2026
Dr Barry Strauss, historian and classicist who wrote extensively on Augustus and Roman warfare, explores how Octavian became Rome’s founder of imperial order. He traces youthful ambition, battlefield gambits, political settlements, cultural branding, and the tradeoff between republican freedom and imperial stability. Short, vivid portraits of Actium, propaganda, succession, and the making of the Pax Romana.
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Ambition Tempered By Political Calculation
- Augustus combined personal ambition with patient political calculation from youth to seize power after Caesar's death.
- He leveraged family ties, mentorship, and emotional intelligence to transform status into authority.
The Young Heir's Bold Claim
- After Caesar's assassination Octavius returned cautiously from Albania and publicly claimed his adoption and name as Caesar's heir.
- At 19 he declared he would gain every honor his great-uncle had, shocking Rome.
From Warlord To Power Broker
- Octavian built power through alliances, defections, and co-opting rivals until he controlled Rome's politics and military.
- He turned temporary wartime authority into a durable personal command of the state.
