<P> In 27 BC, Octavian appeared before the Senate and offered to retire from active politics and government; the Senate not only requested he remain, but increased his powers and made them lifelong, awarding him the title of Augustus (the elevated or divine one, somewhat less than a god but approaching divinity). Augustus stayed in office until his death; the sheer breadth of his superior powers as princeps and permanent imperator of Rome's armies guaranteed the peaceful continuation of what nominally remained a republic . His "restoration" of powers to the Senate and the people of Rome was a demonstration of his auctoritas and pious respect for tradition . </P> <P> Some later historians such as Tacitus would say that even at Augustus' death, the true restoration of the Republic might have been possible . Instead, Augustus actively prepared his adopted son Tiberius to be his successor and pleaded his case to the Senate for inheritance on merit . The Senate disputed the issue but eventually confirmed Tiberius as princeps . Once in power, Tiberius took considerable pains to observe the forms and day - to - day substance of republican government . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Ancient Rome </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> This article is part of a series on the politics and government of ancient Rome </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Periods </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Roman Kingdom 753--509 BC </Li> <Li> Roman Republic 509--27 BC </Li> <Li> Roman Empire 27 BC--AD 1453 </Li> <Li> Empire of Trebizond 1204--1461 </Li> </Ul> <Ul> <Li> Principate </Li> <Li> Dominate </Li> </Ul> <Ul> <Li> Timeline </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Roman Constitution </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Constitution of the Kingdom </Li> <Li> Constitution of the Republic </Li> <Li> Constitution of the Empire </Li> <Li> Constitution of the Late Empire </Li> <Li> Senate </Li> <Li> Legislative Assemblies </Li> <Li> Executive Magistrates </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Ordinary magistrates </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Consul </Li> <Li> Praetor </Li> <Li> Quaestor </Li> <Li> Promagistrate </Li> <Li> Aedile </Li> <Li> Tribune </Li> <Li> Censor </Li> <Li> Governor </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Extraordinary magistrates </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Dictator </Li> <Li> Magister equitum </Li> <Li> Consular tribune </Li> <Li> Rex </Li> <Li> Triumviri </Li> <Li> Decemviri </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Titles and honours </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Emperor </Li> </Ul> <Ul> <Li> Legatus </Li> <Li> Dux </Li> <Li> Officium </Li> <Li> Praefectus </Li> <Li> Vicarius </Li> <Li> Vigintisexviri </Li> <Li> Lictor </Li> <Li> Magister militum </Li> <Li> Imperator </Li> <Li> Princeps senatus </Li> <Li> Pontifex Maximus </Li> <Li> Augustus </Li> <Li> Caesar </Li> <Li> Tetrarch </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Precedent and law </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Roman law </Li> <Li> Imperium </Li> <Li> Mos maiorum </Li> <Li> Collegiality </Li> <Li> Auctoritas </Li> <Li> Roman citizenship </Li> <Li> Cursus honorum </Li> <Li> Senatus consultum </Li> </Ul> <Ul> <Li> Senatus consultum ultimum </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Assemblies </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Centuriate </Li> <Li> Curiate </Li> <Li> Plebeian </Li> <Li> Tribal </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Other countries </Li> <Li> Atlas </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Ancient Rome </Th> </Tr>

Life of roman emperors and the way they ruled