Augustus: The Emperor Who Slept Armed

Rome’s first emperor ruled the world but he slept armed, every single night. His name was Augustus

Caesar, born Gaius Octavius in 63 BCE. He ended Rome’s civil wars and became

emperor in 27 BCE. But power did not bring peace of mind. According to the Roman historian

Suetonius, Augustus lived in constant fear of assassination. And he had reason

to. His adoptive father, Julius Caesar, was stabbed to death by senators in 44

BCE. Suetonius records that Augustus kept a dagger under his pillow while sleeping.

He also reportedly wore armor beneath his toga during Senate meetings when tensions were

high. This wasn’t paranoia it was survival. Rome’s elite had murdered leaders