The first emperor of Rome is known by which title?

• A. Caesar
• B. Nero
• C. Augustus (Octavian)
• D. Brutus

Answer: (C)

The first Roman emperor is known as Augustus, the name Octavian adopted when he established the imperial system after the fall of the Republic. Augustus marked a new era by concentrating power while maintaining the outward forms of the Republic, which helped him rule as the first emperor. The title itself, meaning venerable or respected one, became associated with the emperors, setting a precedent for the role that followed. While the name Caesar became a dynastic label used by later rulers, Julius Caesar himself was not an emperor, and the title alone doesn’t denote the first imperial ruler. Nero came after Augustus, and Brutus was a revolutionary figure who helped spark the end of the Republic, not a ruler of the empire. So the best answer is Augustus.