This led to the unholy alliance at first between Octavian and Cicero, who was Antony’s bitter enemy. This caused Octavian to take a defensive posture against Antony. Octavian found Antony unwilling to cooperate and initially refused to relinquish control of Julius Caesar’s property or assets to the young unproven Octavian. Antony seized Caesar’s assets and viewed himself as perhaps his heir in spirit, although not by his will. Upon arriving in Rome, Octavian approached the situation cautiously and wisely – a characteristic that would mark his style of making decisions throughout his life.įollowing Caesar’s murder, Marc Antony was in Rome. This event placed Octavian in a mature world where he was now bound by the obligation to avenge the death of his uncle. Octavian was still quite young, being only 18 years old, when he was declared Caesar’s heir. While undergoing his studies and military education, he received word of his uncle’s assassination in 44 BC and rushed back to Rome. Octavian took with him his two dearest friends,Marcus Agrippa and Marcus Rufus. Caesar sent Octavian to Apollonia, in Epirus, to study philosophy and the art of war. While Octavian may not have instilled unbridled pride on the part of his uncle, Caesar still did not give up on his nephew. To say the least, he was not a glorious sight upon his arrival at Caesar’s camp. Octavian became ill on the trip and managed to survive a shipwreck along the way. The trip to Spain was not particularly easy. As Caesar’s military conquests began to rival those of Pompey, Octavian journeyed to Spain to be with his uncle on campaign in 45 BC. Octavian began his public career entering into the priesthood, which was largely a political position. His worst illness came in 23 BC, when he suffered a near-death experience which ultimately changed his life and the course of Rome itself. Throughout his life, Octavian suffered terrible episodes of illness including an abscessed liver, influenza and seasonal complaints due to changes in weather. He is said to have had a weakness in his left hip and right forefinger. Physically, Octavian was not particularly strong and he suffered from a variety of complaints throughout his life. As Octavian grew older, his teeth became quite decayed. He stood only five feet, seven inches tall, or perhaps less, and was quite well proportioned. Suetonius tells us that Octavian matured into a remarkably handsome young man with yellow hair who possessed an elegant graceful gait, but often kept his appearance somewhat less than immaculate noting that his hair could be quite messy at times. At the age of only 12, Octavian delivered the funeral oration (the laudatio) for his grandmother Julia, Caesar’s sister, in 53 BC. Curiously enough, Octavian never quite mastered the Greek language despite enjoying Greek poetry and philosophy. Areus, a philosopher, and his sons Dionysius and Nicanor also provided elements of Octavian’ education. Octavian was educated in rhetoric and studied with Apollodorus of Pergarnum, from whom he learned Greek. While his mother, Atia, raised him with a formal Roman education including philosophy, Caesar influenced him the most during these critical early years. Octavian came under Caesar’s direct influence when he was about 4 years old following his father’s death in 59 BC. Octavian preferred to distance himself from that reputation and instead looked to his family’s alliance with the Julians. The family of Octavian had been associated with the bloody affair of proscriptions of Africa. Gaius Octavius Thurinus was born on September 23rd, 63 BC, to Gaius Octavius and Atia, a niece of Julius Caesar by his sister Juia. … Although their job was to protect the emperor, sometimes they plotted against him.Octavian born 63 BC – died 14 AD great-nephew of Julius Caesar Although its members were farmers, they also liked to fight. How did the Praetorian Guard cause problems for the emperors? Although they took part in parades, they had few military skills. How did the Praetorian Guard cause problems for the emperors? Octavian was adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, and then took the name Gaius Julius Caesar. Augustus was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus on 23 September 63 BCE. Who was the first Caesar?Īugustus Caesar Augustus Caesar (27 BCE – 14 CE) was the name of the first and, by most accounts, greatest Roman emperor. Octavian is one of the names of Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor and a member of the second Triumvirate. Augustus regularly proclaimed that the power of the empire was in the hands of the Senate and the people, although the principate was more similar to an autocracy than a democracy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |