Augustus ruled the Roman Empire, which he transformed from a republic into a monarchy. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus and was the grandnephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE, Augustus emerged as the leader of Rome following a series of civil wars. In 27 BCE, he was granted the title Augustus, meaning "the revered one," and became the first Roman Emperor. His reign initiated the Pax Romana, a long period of relative peace and stability across the empire, and he implemented significant administrative reforms that shaped the future of Rome.