$8
Excerpt:
After Julius Caesar’s grandnephew Augustus defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra, he was made emperor of Rome, and the Roman Senate decided that he, like his great uncle, should
have a month named after him. Not only did the Senate name a month after Augustus, but it decided that since Julius’ month, July, had 31 days, Augustus’ month should equal it.
Under the Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (with the exception of February), which made August 30 days long. So, instead of August having a mere
30 days, it was lengthened to 31, preventing anyone from claiming that Emperor Augustus was saddled with an inferior month. (You can’t make this up!)