What title did the Roman Senate grant Octavian in 27 BCE?

The Roman Senate granted Octavian the title Augustus in 27 BCE.

Octavian had won the civil wars that followed Julius Caesar’s assassination, but he presented his settlement as a restoration of the Republic rather than an open monarchy. On 13 January 27 BCE, he formally returned powers to the Senate and Roman people. The Senate then awarded him the honorific Augustus, traditionally interpreted as conveying dignity, reverence, or sacred authority.

Augustus retained decisive control through a combination of constitutional powers, personal prestige, military command, and control of key provinces. He became Rome’s first emperor in practice, although he avoided the title “king” and often emphasized his role as princeps, or first citizen.

The name Augustus became central to his public identity. His reign brought relative stability after decades of civil conflict and established the Julio-Claudian imperial succession.