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How Did Octavian Loyal To The Name Of Julius Caesar?

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Because Octavian had the name of Caesar, a legion compiled of Julius Caesar’s veterans were loyal to him however he could not use them unless he gained imperium. Although Augustus disliked Brutus and did not want to associate with the conspirators who had assassinated his newly adopted father, he knew that he had to support the Senate so that they would appoint him pro-praetor. The senate needed Octavian’s legions to help them fight Mark Antony in Mutina therefore they allowed him to become the youngest pro-praetor so that he could gain imperium to use the legions. Although Mark Antony was defeated at Mutina in 43BC, the senate’s consuls were killed during the battle leaving the remaining legions in the control of Octavian. When the senate ordered Octavian to hand the command of their legions to Decimus Brutus, Octavian refused taking permanent command of them for himself with the justification that they would refuse to fight under the command of those who conspired against Julius Caesar. …show more content…

Mutina was essentially where Octavian showed the senate and the world that he was a young man who not only deserved the name of Caesar but was also a man who was equal to the respected Mark Antony. With the threat of eight legions, Octavian claimed consulship as the senate voted for him in fear that they would march on Rome if he was not elected. The battle of Mutina in 43BC allowed Octavian, using his clever wits, to start as pro-praetor in his political career and ending up in the most powerful position in Rome with the control of the most powerful army rather than being thrown away by the senate after they had used him to defeat Mark Antony. Without the victory, Octavian may never have achieved the prestige necessary to be looked upon as Caesar’s

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