What happened January 27 AD

On 16 January 27 BC the Senate gave Octavian the new titles of Augustus and Princeps. Augustus is from the Latin word Augere (meaning to increase) and can be translated as "the illustrious one". It was a title of religious authority rather than political authority. His new title of Augustus was also more favorable than Romulus, the previous one which he styled for himself in reference to the story of the legendary founder of Rome, which symbolized a second founding of Rome.

In January 27 BC Octavian was renamed Augustus and amassed constitutional powers that established him as the first Roman emperor, inaugurating the Principate era of the Roman Empire.