Marriage and Family Legislation of August in Literary and Historical Sources of the 1st Century B.C. – 2nd Century A.D.

Based on literary and historical-biographical works, the article considers the manifestations of the crisis of the institute of family and marriage in the Roman society of 1st century B.C. - 2nd century A.D., methods of legislative settlement of problems in the system of family relations, adopted by Emperor Augustus, and the subsequent reaction of society to the adopted laws. The author investigates the personal position of poets and historians with regard to Octavian's policy in the field of private life of Romans, identifies the main reasons for the degradation of moral and ethical norms in the society of the presented period. Investigating numerous attempts to circumvent Julian laws on the part of Roman citizens, as well as the deterioration of family and marriage relations, reflected in written sources, the author comes to the conclusion about the lack of effectiveness of Augustus' laws in the sphere of family and marriage.