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
To answer the question of whether or not Augustus was a good leader, his character and actions must be looked at over the sum of his life. The leadership traits of respect, generosity, fairness, compassion, fearlessness, humility, sensitivity, and innovation appear in The Annals, Lives of the Twelve Caesars, The Deeds of The Divine Augustus and the class textbook. Augustus demonstrated all of these attributes during his 51-year reign as emperor from 63 BCE to 14 CE. However, he was not without fault as he also conducted himself in a less than worthy manner at times. Augustus was not a perfect leader but he matured into a man who was respected and obeyed during life and is still studied almost 2000 years after his death.
Julius Caesar a man who made history, and a man who should get credit for the incredible things he’s done. I believe, Julius Caesar, should get the statue because he was an active leader by expanding the Roman Empire, he accomplished things that others wouldn’t dare to do and he also ruled many lands.
Julius Caesar was a popular dictator of the Roman Republic. He was a successful leader of the military who grew the republic into parts of Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. He was also well known for writing about his travels, theories, and political views. Alongside Caesar was the Senate, a group of politicians who were not elected and helped shape the government and Roman policy. They resented Caesar’s increasing power and popularity. They called themselves the “Liberators” and invited Caesar to a sporting event where they stabbed him to death 23 times. The Liberators who killed Caesar initially thought they were saving the Roman Republic, but instead, the majority of the Roman public ended up hating them and a long civil war ensued. The conflict arose between Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, and his general, Marc Antony, with the help of Cleopatra. The winner of the war would gain ultimate control over Rome. The civil war ended when Octavian seized the weak Roman Republic. He went on to rule Rome as its first emperor under the title Caesar
Being born into the senatorial class, Julius Caesar was to serve in the army and in the senate. He quickly rose through political rankings. He started off being elected as a quaestor in 69 BCE, it was his duty to supervise the financial affairs of the state. In 65 BCE, he was appointed Adele, which meant he was in charge of the public entertainment. He was very serious about this position and made sure people would be happy as long as they had access to varied and enjoyable entertainment. He put on festivals for many to enjoy, and built a
(Source 1). "The benefits of life under Augustus were too great to throw away lightly". Octavian kept the people and the Senate happy, they weren't inclined to rebel and Rome was its turmoil, allowing it to flourish and grow to be an empire remembered forever. This peace was made possible by Octavian who became a devoted leader but also listened and controlled the senate very carefully, which his predecessor, Julius Caesar, failed to do. He understood the treatment of the senate would allow the people to adore him because in their hearts it reminded them of the former
Cassius Dio insists the empire and Augustus owe an extraordinary amount to Gaius Maecenas, Marcus Agrippa, and to a lesser extent, Livia. While the empire had problems with stability from time to time, the three of them had their roles in cultivating prosperity. The role of lifelong friend and confidante is attributed to Agrippa, as his loyalty ceased to cultivate throughout the years. The trifecta aided Augustus in ruling and improving the empire, while sporadically corralling the Octavian mindset inside of Augustus. Augustus single-handedly appointed Agrippa to settle disputes that arose on the frontier, and in Rome. He was the ultimate plug-n-play general of the empire, and proved his worth early on until his death in 12 B.C through military ventures and building projects. Gaius Maecenas had a profound impact on Augustus’ decision to retain the power that he acquired after defeating Marc Antony and Cleopatra, which shaped the government into what eventually existed in Dio’s time. He also handled important business in Rome while the emperor was absent, acting as a sit-in caesar, if you will. Livia attempted to promote the women of Rome, while also helping Augustus soothe relationships with the latter’s enemies. However, mischievous presumptions loom from Dio around Livia regarding certain disastrous events. Nonetheless, without Livia, Maecenas, and especially Agrippa, Octavian might not have ever had the chance to rule Rome.
When Octavian stated “And yet, at first, I was so enthusiastic about him that I shared with him my command, married my sister to him, and have him legions,” he shows that he was the dominate male in his home and an authority figure in Rome during his speech to his troops (Document 2). He tells them of how men are superior to woman, but that Antony is allowing Cleopatra to take control of Rome and him. Antony has given her everything that the citizens of Rome have worked for and owned including land, riches, and even an island, all while he is still married to Octavian’s sister. Antony went as far as even “legitimizing the two children, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selena,” that he conceived with Cleopatra while still married (Document 1). Octavian tried to reason with Antony, showing that he still backed him but that he needed to come back to the Roman side because the Egyptian queen has brainwashed him, and turned him into a female servant. Once, Antony rejects the offer, Octavian condemned Antony and in return was condemned right back (Document 1). From that point, Octavian decided that he no longer has a choice, Rome needed to defend themselves from the Egyptian sorcerous, Cleopatra, and the bewitched Marc Antony. If they conquered them, then they would be free from all that has been done, but if they lose, then they have brought shame upon themselves (Document
The following questions will help you to prepare for your eventual test over “Julius Caesar”. While I will not be collecting this, it is on you to make sure that you are answering the questions as we go. Your test will be taken directly from this study guide.
While Octavius became popular with the populace, Antony was falling back into destation. Morey (1901), stated that Octavius did not do anything but bided his time waiting for Antony to slip up. Romans have suspected that Antony was making treasonable acts with his army and frequent visits to Egypt meeting Cleopatra. This was deemed true as the Romans saw this as treason and demanded Octavius to war with Antony. Octavius appealed to the Romans that they should war against Cleopatra than Antony. Instead of the foreign war against Egypt, this was a civil war against Antony. Antony knew what this war was directed at, so he separated himself from Octavius and declared himself an enemy of Rome (Morey, 1901).
Caesar Octavian Augustus helped the Expansion of the Roman Empire on the frontiers/ Conquest of Egypt. Octavian Augustus fought wars both on land and water, and spared many people. The success of his wars led to the successful military expansion of the Roman Empire. By waging wars on other places, Octavian took over land and expanded it. He also conquered many other places including Egypt. When Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII tried to battle Octavian at the Battle of Actium, Antony’s forces were wiped out and the next year, Alexandria was conquered by Octavian’s Troops.(Durant et al. Everitt, Hamilton, Suetonius) Mark Antony and Cleopatra later killed themselves leaving Egypt in the hands of Octavian. Augustus expanded his huge empire into northern Spain, large parts of central Europe and Germany. (Sizgorich) Octavian’s conquest of
Virgil lived through the first age of the Roman Empire, amid the rule of the sovereign Octavian, later known as Augustus. Civil war came up between Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus. Octavian and Antony were the only ones remaining by 36 B.C.; they eventually began warring against each other. In 31 B.C., the Battle of Actium ended with Octavian defeating Antony and his ally Cleopatra of Egypt, thereby establishing himself as sole ruler of Rome, making him the first emperor of Ancient Rome. This was the summit of strife that had tormented Rome for the past half-century, after all of the issues Rome faced, many looked to Augustus to convey greatly required security to the state.
Octavian’s family begged him to stay where he was and renounce his inheritance because they thought the assassins of Caesar were very strong. Octavian did not take his families advice, and in a tremendously daring act he announced that he was going to Rome to claim what was his and avenge Caesar’s death. Instead he went directly to Brundisium and gathered the large amount of troops located there. To make sure that people knew who he was, he called himself “Caesar.” This identified him fully with his adoptive father, and gave him legitimacy. He switched from the unknown Octavian to Caesar, or son of Caesar. Because of this, many of the soldiers from Brundisium joined his cause, and the army grew in size and skill. Octavian tried to make friends with the leaders of the Roman army, but Mark Antony and Lepidus opposed Octavian’s claim to power
Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus, and Marcus Antonius were three key factors during the time of Julius Caesar in the Roman Empire. Cassius and Brutus were the two main conspirators against Caesar, and Brutus was even the one who assassinated him. Unlike the two of them, Marcus Antonius, Mark Antony, was one of Caesar’s right hand men and won many battles for him, including one against Cassius. While Brutus and Cassius were at the head of the freight train that was headed for Caesar, Antony stood firm, however helpless it seemed, with Caesar until they failed on March 15, 44 BC when Caesar was killed.
Upon the defeat and death of Antony, Octavian proclaimed the restoration of the Republic of Rome. However, he had no intention of stepping down as leader. In 27 BC Octavian placed the republic at the disposal of the Senate and the Roman people. Octavian’s position was now legitimized by the Senate’s request that he command and lead Rome. He was given the military command, known as Imperium for ten years. This office included the administration of Roman provinces that required the presence of the army. The official name of Octavian became Imperator Caesar Augustus From that time would be known as Augustus, which means “the Exalted”.
Augustus raised a force of 3000 men from his “Father’s” veterans. But among the supporters of Caesar, Octavian also had a natural opponent - Mark Antony, the dictator's trusted lieutenant. Mark Antony was not at all like Octavian. He was a lot more attractive and physically stronger. Octavian had called upon Antony for help and support but was disappointed to find that he was jealous because Octavian had been named heir rather than himself.