In preparation for his death and to ensure that his achievements were remembered, Augustus wrote an account of the deeds he felt were the most significant of his reign as emperor. His list was distributed throughout the Roman provinces and was eventually inscribed in bronze near his tomb in Rome. Although he may have used some poetic license to enhance his achievements, The Deeds of the Divine Augustus provided historians with important details of events that occurred during his reign.
The men who killed my father I drove into exile by strictly judicial [legal] process, and then, when they took up arms [fought] against the Republic, twice I overcame them in battle.
I undertook civil and foreign wars both by land and by sea; as victor [winner] therein I showed mercy to all surviving [Roman] citizens. Foreign nations, that I could safely pardon [forgive], I preferred to spare rather than to destroy. About 500,000 Roman citizens took the military oath of allegiance [loyalty] to me. Rather over 300,000 of these have I settled in colonies, or sent back to their home towns when their term of service ran out; and to all of these I have given lands bought by me, or the money for farms—and this out of my private means [money]. I have taken 600 ships, besides those smaller than triremes [fighting ships].
Twice have I had the lesser triumph [victory]; thrice the curule [greater] triumph; twenty-one times have I been saluted as "Imperator" [emperor]. After that, when the Senate voted me many triumphs, I declined them. Also I often deposited [placed] the laurels in the Capitol, fulfilling the vows which I had made in battle. On account of the enterprises [successes] brought to a happy issue on land and sea by me, or by my legates [representatives], under my auspices [guidance], fifty-five times has the Senate decreed a thanksgiving unto the Immortal Gods. The number of days, too, on which thanksgiving was professed [thought to be], fulfilling the Senate's decrees, was 890. Nine kings, or children of kings, have been led before my car [chariot] in my triumphs. And when I wrote these words, thirteen times had I been consul, and for the thirty-seventh year was holding the tribunician power [special powers of an emperor].