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Sextilis was the original Latin name for the sixth month in the Roman calendar. It was renamed Augustus (August) in 8 BC in honor of the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar (Julius Caesar was not the first Roman Emperor, contrary to some peoples belief, he was a dictator), because it came after the month of July (named after his granduncle, adopted father, and predecessor, Julius Caesar) and because of several fortunate events that occurred in his life during this month: the Battle of Pharsalus, his first admission to the consulship, his triple triumph, and the deaths of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. It also happened to be the month his grandnephew (the future Emperor Claudius) was born, and the month in which Augustus died. The month reputedly has 31 days because Augustus wanted as many days as Julius Caesar's July, but this idea is a mistake. Sextilis had had 31 days since the time of Julius Caesar (see Julian calendar). The Senatorial decree (senatus consultum) renaming Sextilis to Augustus reads in part:
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