Octavian Caesar

Octavian was favored by Caesar from an early age. In 48 Caesar had his fifteen-year-old great-nephew elected to the priestly college of the pontifices, and he also enrolled him in the hereditary patrician aristocracy of Rome: Octavian joined Caesar in 46 B.C.E on campaign against Pompey in Spain. Later, Octavian was sent to Apollonia, on the coast of Greece, to attempt to finish his education. While in Apollonia, Octavian trained with Roman legions stationed there. Only months after arriving in Apollonia, Octavian learned that Caesar was murdered. He also learned that he was named as the beneficiary in Caesar’s will and had been formally adopted as his son. The will thrust tremendous power on Octavian. He was now the leader of a great army ready to follow the commands of Caesar’s heir. Octavian used this army to occupy Rome and force the Senate to make him consul. Marc Antony, who had been consul with Caesar, was now forced to create the alliance with Lepidus, a high priest, and Octavian. The three leaders divided the land that Rome had conquered. Antony controlled the East and Octavian the West. Lepidus controlled Africa. The leaders led a ruthless campaign to punish Caesar¹s assassins but soon turned on each other. Octavian first attacked Lepidus and took control of Africa and all of Italy. Antony strained relations between Octavian and himself by divorcing Octavian’s sister, in favor of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Finally, in

In the arising chaos of Caesar’s death, Mark Antony, Octavion, and others fought a series of five civil wars, which would end in the formation of the Roman Empire. The Roman middle and lower classes, with whom Caesar was popular, became angry that a small group of aristocrats had killed Caesar, especially after Antony gave a dramatic applause that appealed to the common people, a reflection of public opinion following Caesar's murder. About 43 B.C, the second triumvirate was formed between Octavion, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. Sometime after 43 B.C, Afterward, Mark Antony married Caesar's lover, Cleopatra, intending to use the fabulously wealthy Egypt as a base to dominate Rome. A third civil war broke out between Octavion and Antony. This final civil war resulted in the final ascendancy of Octavian, who became the first Roman emperor, under the name Caesar Augustus, a name that raised him to status of an idol.

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.

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

Augustus legal reforms established a Roman government that lasted for 3 centuries. His new system was termed the ‘Principate’ (Augustus et al., 1967). By the end of Caeasr’s life the Roman Republic has not been functioning for many years. Upon Sextus Pompeius defeat in 36 BC Augustus declared that all the records of his past acts should be destroyed (Augustus et al., 1967). He was starting over and so began to form the Principate. He began his reform of the Roman Empire’s administration by moving the senate from being the chief of state to being a subordinate entity of administrators that were at Augustus’s disposal. To prevent uprising from the senate Augustus complimented this move by creating ‘suffect consulships, a supplementary consulship’ (Flower, 2004). This almost doubled the amount of consuls,

Octavian enabled the long, nonviolent time of the Pax Romana, (Latin for Roman peace) by changing Rome from a frail, collapsing republican government to a powerful empire. He is known as the first, and one of the greatest, Roman Emperors ever. Octavian was born on September 23, 63 BC, and died in 14 AD. Born with the name Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius Julius Caesar via his will, and then was named Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. This happened in 44 BC when his great uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by a group of conspirators. Additionally, he received the name “Augustus” a term meaning “the revered one” from the Roman Senate in 27 BC. Because of the various names he had, it is

Augustus took over Italy and the West, while Antony ruled the East. Lepidus was given Africa. Augustus and Antony had their differences when assigning the ruler of Italy, but they were over come when Augustus gave Antony his sister in marriage. Augustus stripped Lepidus of his power when Antony was away in the east fighting the Parthians. The Triumvirate was falling apart. Antony started neglecting his provinces and spent time in sent his wife back to Rome and married the queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Cleopatra had been installed as queen by Caesar. She had a son with Caesar named Caesarion and recognized him as her coruler. This undercut Augustus’ position as Caesar’s only son and the war was inevitable. Augustus defeated Antony and Cleopatra’s forces in a naval battle and the following year, the two committed suicide. Caesarion was murdered. Augustus returned to Rome and at the age of 34, he was “the sole master of the Roman world”. (Augustus, 1996)

It is very interesting that Augustus was a special emperor and leader in both Roman Republic and Empire because he was the last Republic leader and he was the first emperor. He was like a bridge or a construction politician, leader and emperor between two regimes. But, how were the regimes according to his time period? I need to focus on it before analyzing and evaluating Augustus and his doings. Firstly, he was very clever that he got the ability to take advantage of every and each situation regarding the state and political issues. It might be being one of Julius Caesar’s relatives that he was Augustus’ uncle at first, and then Caesar adopted him. Maybe, he wanted to make real his step-father’s wish to change the regime gradually. His first smart political movement was the second triumvirate’s setting up to bring the State back to the previous good years to govern. But, after ten years’ triumvirate, it had some defects because of the members’ beneficial conflicts with one another, and then Augustus confronted to Marcus Antonius and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus because of their personal benefits and ambition, and “he alone was most insistent that no one should be spared…” as Suetonius stated. He was not happy with the other two triumvirs, and moreover, he was suspected on some of his generals, consul members, and praetors, such as Pinarius, a Roman knight,

Julius Caesar's reign was an unfavorable and chaotic period for Rome, and after his death, a large portion of the empire was handed down to his adopted son, Gaius Octavian. From the ashes of his father, Octavian was able to build an Empire unparalleled. Later, the name Augustus was given to him by Senate. Augustus ostensibly maintained the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality creating the Roman Empire. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to the Pax Romana with its flourishing of trade and the arts. Although Augustus's ascension to power could have not been without it bequested by Julius, it was his use of art and propaganda that reinforced the legitimacy his position.

augustus was the first roman emperor (but he never called himself so) and morphed the republic to an empire he was Julius caesar’s adopted son. he established the foundation for Pax Romana, a 200 year period of peace and a lasting empire for almost 15,000 years. he was born is 63 B.C. and referred to as octavius but after he was adopted in 44 B.C. he was renamed Octavian but in 26 B.c. the senate decided to call him Augustus, which means the august or exulted one.

Shortly after Caesar was betrayed by his own people (led by the republican nobles Brutus and Gaius Cassius) his great nephew and adopted heir Octavian, joined forces with Mark Antony to crush Brutus and Cassius and divided power in Rome with ex-consul Lepidus, in what was known as the Second Triumvirate. With Octavian leading the west, and Antony the east, a tension was soon to be developed, because the greed of power is inevitable. Around 31 B.C Octavian triumphed over Antony and crushed him in the battle of Actium, and by 29 B.C Octavian was sole ruler and leader of Rome, and all its provinces. To avoid meeting Caesar’s fate, he made sure to make his position as absolute ruler acceptable to the public by apparently restoring the political

In 44 B.C., at age seventeen, Octavius went to Apollonia to finish his academic and military training. While in Apollonia, Octavius learned of the assassination of his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. Upon his return to Rome, he found out that Caesar’s will made him, Caesar’s adopted son and heir to his political and personal fortune. Octavius was advised not to accept the inheritance because of his youth and inexperience in Roman politics. Nonetheless, he accepted his inheritance. As a result of his adoption and Roman custom protocol, Octavius’ name changed to Gaius Julius Caesar (hereafter “Octavian”), which was necessary for securing military support and funds. Julius Caesar’s supporters, including many from the Senate, rallied around Octavian

Julius Caesar served as a key ruler in creating the Roman Empire. He is considered one of the world’s greatest generals and a wise politician. He took opportunities and used them to their fullest for self improvement. Characteristics such as confidence and charisma made Caesar a born leader. Over the course of his lifetime he flew through the political ladder in the Roman Republic and set forth a new way of ruling as a dictator.

Augustus was adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. Augustus was called many names but the most common was Octavian. Augustus was the founder of the Roman Principate and he was considered the first Roman Emperor, controlling the Roman empire from 27 BC until he died in 14 AD. Augustus was considered to be the greatest emperor of all time. Augustus came in power after his uncle Julius Caesar was assassinated. Augustus gained supreme power by defeating Mark Antony. Mark Antony had been a close friend and relative to them for a long time. Augustus and Mark Antony’s relationship had began to deteriorate so he then had given his sister to marry Mark Antony in hope to get their bond back. Then, Augustus thought that Mark Antony had used his sister because he had divorced her and married Cleopatra. So therefore, their relationship was still messed up and a lot of things happened between them.

As the first Roman emperor (though he never claimed the title), Augustus led Rome’s transformation from republic to empire during the chaotic years following the assassination of his great-uncle and adoptive father Julius Caesar. Augustus became one of Rome’s greatest leaders and he established the principate, the form of government under which Rome ruled its empire for many years.