Did Augustus really begin Roman Empire because he had no alternative?

The Roman Empire properly began with Augustus' uncle
Julius Caesar who was killed because the Romans feared he would make himself King.
Julius Caesar had instituted a centralized form of rule over Rome which had previously
not existed, and had also set up colonies in North Africa, Gaul, and Spain. So it is
incorrect to attribute the founding of the Empire to Augustus. In fact, after the
collapse of the Second Triumvirate comprised of Octavian (later known as Augustus), Mark
Antony and Lepidus, Octavian hoped to restore the old Roman Republic. He could not do
so, however as if he relinquished power, the end result would be another Roman civil war
much as that which had brought him to power. It was thus expedient for him to retain the
reins of power, but to do so in a more subdued way. The Roman Senate awarded him the
title of Augustus (which had strong religious connotation) and because of his position
as head of the Roman army, he was given the title of Imperator (hence "Emperor.") In an
attempt to appear as merely first among equals, (primus inter pares)
Augustus awarded himself the title of "first citizen," or Princeps
Civitatus. (From this term comes the word "prince." He wore modest clothes
and lived in a simple house, encouraged family life and made adultery a crime. At the
same time, he accumulated a great deal of power for himself; and was ultimately
responsible for all important government functions. All of this an attempt to preserve
the integrity of the Empire but move it as near to the former Republic as possible. So
he did not really "begin" the Empire; however he did act to preserve it in an effort to
prevent further war. He was obviously successful, as the period of his rule is known as
the pax romana (roman peace.)