technically the roman empire was there from the start, because imperium means military authority over a territory. the republic had imperium. historians refer to the later periods as principate (rule by princeps, like augustus) and dominate (ruled by dominus, like diocletian).
I remember someone asking me that on a call, and within the distance of my arm was a copy of Parenti’s The Assassination of Julius Ceasar.
Pre-Empire. Doesn’t count.
technically the roman empire was there from the start, because imperium means military authority over a territory. the republic had imperium. historians refer to the later periods as principate (rule by princeps, like augustus) and dominate (ruled by dominus, like diocletian).
I’m in the clear then, Octavian doesn’t even factor into my thoughts. Wheew.