re: Octavius (Augustus) Caesar: Cruel sniveling coward or great Roman (or both)?

He was a political mastermind unlike any the Roman Empire had ever seen and none after ever had the enduring influence that he had. He understood how to hide autocratic rule beneath the guise of Republican principles. He outlasted and out maneuvered the likes of Pompey, Brutus and Cassius in the East, Sextus Pompey on Sicily, and Mark Antony. He chose wisely in making his childhood friend Agrippa the hammer of his reign. Under his reign, the empire reached its apex in expansion and administration and was at an all time high at his death. He wisely, abandoned the quest to expand North of the Rhine into Germanica even though it had been a goal of his and the Senate to expand to the Elbe for 3 decades. Instead, he put focus on strengthening the border territories South of the Rhine and strengthening Romes hold on the Trans-Alpine, Long Haired, and Cis-Alpine Gaul territories.

He was a master at giving the impression that he was a champion of the Republic while ruling as a benevolent dictator.

As far as being a coward, he was definitely interested in his own self preservation especially in his early years and in the heat of battle. He was always "sick" and in a tent in the rear when things got messy. He was no Agrippa or Antony in that regard. His brilliance was in his ability to slow play politics to eventually consolidate power. It did not hurt that he Julius Caesar left him his entire estate. He had the money and wherewithal to pay his legions, Senators, and citizens handsome sums for their loyalty early in his rise to power.

History shows that all of this ended up for the greater good of Rome during and for centuries after his death. I personally think he was the greatest leader Rome ever had.