Who was the first emperor of the Roman Empire?

Augustus

Augustus, born Octavian, is often regarded as the first Roman emperor, although Julius Caesar, his adoptive great-uncle, laid the groundwork for the transformation of the Republic into an Empire. When he took power after Caesar's death, Augustus initiated a period of relative peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana, which lasted about 200 years. Unlike many of his successors, his rule was marked by a relative absence of major internal conflicts, contributing to the stability and growth of the Empire. He also established the imperial succession system, which helped secure the transition of power, though this system sometimes led to conflicts and assassinations within the imperial family. The death of Augustus in 14 AD marked the end of an era and the beginning of a dynasty that would rule Rome for centuries, though his peace and prosperity were seldom matched by his successors.