History of August

posted in: Months of the Year | 0

With August comes the end of summer vacation and the return to school for the
majority of students.

bust of Augustus

August also brings the end of summer vacation for many people, although the official end of summer is not until September 22nd. 

The month of August has the highest birth rate in the United States. 

The month of August was originally named Sextilis in Latin.  This is because it was the sixth of ten months on the Roman calendar. 

It was around 700BC when Sextilis became the eighth month with the addition of January and February to the calendar. 

In 45BC, Julius Caesar added two days to the month for the modern length of 31 days. 

Sextilis was renamed August in 8BC in honor of Augustus.  He was the founder of the Roman Empire and it’s first ruler, ruling from 27BC to AD14.

The common belief is he chose this month because this was when he had several of his greatest triumphs, including the conquest of Egypt.

Augustus

He was born Gaius Octavius, but in 27BC following the defeat of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, the Roman Senate renamed him Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus.  Thereafter he was known as Augustus.

Augustus was the maternal great-grand nephew of Julius Caesar and the  adopted son and heir of Octavius.

Augustus reign ushered in an era of peace known as The Roman Peace. 

Augustus died at the age of 75, in AD14, of natural causes.  He was succeeded by his adopted son, Tiberius.

Now, more than 2000 years after his death, Augustus is still remembered by the month named after him. 

A month that sees the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.

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