Brutus and Cassius, Caesar’s chief assassins, were defeated at Philippi in northern Greece. This agreement between Rome’s three most powerful men completely cut off the senate from power (27 November 43 BC).Ĭicero was killed in the proscriptions that followed. Three months thereafter he met with Antony and Lepidus at Bologna and the three came to an agreement, the Triumvirate. Had the two reigning consuls both been killed in the battle, then in August 43 BC Octavian marched on Rome and forced the senate to accept him as consul. Marc Antony was defeated at Mutina (43 BC) and forced to retreat into Gaul.īut now it showed that Cicero had definitely lost control of the young Octavian.
So, when in November 44 BC Antony left Rome to take command in northern Italy, Octavian was dispatched with the senate’s blessing to make war on Antony. Cicero saw in the young Octavian a useful ally.
#GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR AUGUSTUS PRAETOR OF ROME SERIES#
Octavian, appreciated as Antony’s primary rival by then, was granted the status of senator, despite not yet being twenty.ĭuring the summer of 44 BC the senate’s leader, Cicero, delivered a series of infamous speeches against Marc Antony which came to be known as the ‘Philippics’. Many of the senators, too, were opposed to Antony. Such efforts to see Caesar’s will done helped raise Octavian’s standing with the Roman people considerably. Therefore Octavian was forced to distribute Caesar’s legacies to the Roman public from whatever funds he was able to raise himself. Though he failed to persuade Marc Antony to hand over Caesar’s assets and documents. With his determined stand he soon succeeded in winning over many of Caesar’s supporters, including some of the legions. But Octavian refused to accept this attitude. Though when he arrived Octavian found power in the hands of Mark Antony and Aemilius Lepidus. No doubt this only increased his desire to avenge Caesar’s murder. And he was to take a senior military command in Caesar’s planned Parthian expedition of 44 BC, although at the time being only 18 years old.īut Octavian was with his friends Marcus Agrippa and Marcus Salvidienus Rufus in Apollonia in Epirus completing his academic and military studies, when news reached him of Caesar’s assassination.Īt once he returned to Rome, learning on the way that Caesar had adopted him in his will. Octavian served under Julius Caesar in the Spanish expedition of 46 BC despite his delicate health. His public moral attitudes were strict (he had been appointed pontifex (priest) at the age of fifteen or sixteen) and he exiled his daughter and his grand-daughter, both named Julia, for offending against these principles. He was tolerant of criticism, possessed a good sense of humour, and had a particular fondness for playing dice, but often provided his guests with money to place bets.Īlthough unfaithful to his wife Livia Drusilla, he remained deeply devoted to her. For he was still prepared to be ruthless when necessary. This, however, might just be because, as his position became more secure, the need for brutality lessened. His body was covered in spots and he had many birthmarks scattered over his chest and belly.Īs for his character it is said that he was cruel when young, but became mild later on. Though he suffered from bad teeth and was generally of feeble health.
He was of short stature, handsome and well proportioned and he possessed that commodity so rare in rulers – grace. She was the daughter of Julia, sister to Julius Caesar. It was his mother who had the more distinguished connection. His father, Gaius Octavius, was the first in the family to become a senator, but died when Octavian was only four. The future emperor Augustus was born into an equestrian family as Gaius Octavius at Rome on 23 September 63 BC.
0 kommentar(er)
