January, 27 BC: Octavian Gives Up Everything

January of 27 BC: Octavian stands before the Senate and lays down his power. In a few days he will receive the name Augustus.

Transcript

The senators wait for the speech.

Silence falls in the chamber.

Octavian rises, holding a speech in his hand.

A man whom no one can oppose says he is leaving.

The senators listen in silence.

No one yet knows how this will end.

Soon he will receive a new name: Augustus.

And with it, most of what he gave up will come back to him.