Julius Octavius (27 B.C.–A.D. 14), the grandnephew of Julius Caesar, became the first emperor of Rome. Because of his wise rulership, the Roman Senate gave him the title “Augustus.” He was the reigning emperor when Jesus Christ was born.
Augustus, the founder of the empire, would not even accept the title of lord. For that, too, is a name for deity. Tertullian (c. 197, W), 3.43.
[Cicero] had learned that . . . Julius Octavius was the destined Augustus, the suppressor and destroyer of civil conflicts. Yet, at the time, Octavius was still only a little boy, was in a private station, and was personally unknown to Cicero. Tertullian (c. 210, W), 3.224, 225.
It was by the law of Augustus that the empire of Rome was established. Hippolytus (c. 200, W), 5.214.
Octavius Sebastus, or, as the Romans call him, Augustus . . . on returning to Rome . . . where he was educated, took hold of the principal place in the government. Julius Africanus (c. 245, E), 6.135.
Up until the time of Herod, [the Jews] did appear to retain some semblance of a kingdom. It was under Augustus that the first census took place among them and that they began to pay taxes. Disputation of Archelaus and Manes (c. 320, E), 6.219.