2.

1 Octavian Comes to Rome, 44–42 BC

TOPIC OVERVIEW

Divi Filius
● the benefits for Augustus* of associating himself with Julius Caesar, including:
● popularity with the Plebeian class and the army
● military strength
● the illustrious men and gods that are ancestors of the Julian clan
● how he sought to achieve this association
● the possible dangers of association with Julius Caesar and how Augustus sought to distance himself
from the problematic aspects of Julius Caesar’s public image

Imperator
● the portrayal and justification of civil wars
● the significance of triumph in Roman society

The following prescribed source is covered in this topic:

Don’t forget that you will be given credit in the exam if you study extra sources and make relevant use of
them in your answers.

It would be impossible to fully understand the life and times of Octavian without first
understanding the extraordinary life of his adoptive father, Julius Caesar. What is more,
it would be impossible to fully understand how and why Octavian presented himself in
the way he did without understanding the legacy left to him by Julius Caesar. It is for
these reasons that this companion to the life and image of Octavian will begin years
before he was even born.

*
Note that Augustus is referred to as Octavian in the specification for periods before he assumed this name
in 27 BC.

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 Part Two Imperial Image

KEY INDIVIDUALS
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JULIUS CAESAR
Octavian
Gaius Julius Caesar (100–44 BC ) was a Roman politician and general. Born into the
Dates: 63 BC –14 AD
ancient Julian clan, he traced his family lineage back to the legendary founders of Rome:
The Roman politician at the
Aeneas and his divine mother Venus (the goddess of love) and Romulus and his divine
heart of this module. He
was largely responsible for father Mars (the god of war).
transforming Rome from a Hugely popular with the common people of Rome and with legions of veterans
Republic to a Principate. who had served in his army, Julius Caesar became one of the most powerful men in
Mostly referred to as Rome in the first century BC . He was a gifted military general and a skilful public
Augustus, as he changed
speaker. He advanced quickly up Rome’s political ladder, being elected Pontifex
his name in 27 BC . This
book will follow the modern Maximus in 63 BC and eventually being elected as consul (Rome’s highest political
convention of calling him office) for the year 59 BC . He was overwhelmingly popular with the urban poor, many
Octavian when referring to of whom were disenfranchised Italian farmers or discharged veterans. He sought to
the early parts of his life
improve their living conditions through initiatives such as his land distribution bill,
and switch to calling him
Augustus when referring to
which gave these impoverished city-dwellers a chance for homes and livelihoods in
anything after 27 BC . Italy.
Julius Caesar At this stage, Julius Caesar made an informal alliance with two of Rome’s leading
Dates: 100–44 BC men: Pompey the Great (a great general) and Crassus (who was exceedingly wealthy).
Octavian’s great-uncle and They were known as the First Triumvirate. The three men used their combined influ-
adoptive father. A ence to manage Roman politics. Many saw this as unconstitutional as they were bypassing
prominent Roman politician the traditional, legal routes to political power. Some went so far as to accuse the triumvirs
and general who held onto of treason against Rome.
the position of dictator for
Regardless, the triumvirate continued to work together and were the three most
too long and was therefore
assassinated by some of powerful men in the Empire. Eventually, however, the triumvirate turned against
his fellow senators. itself, with each man vying for sole power. Crassus died in 53 BC while on a military
Pompey the Great campaign in Parthia, leaving only Julius Caesar and Pompey. Private squabbling turned
Dates: 106–48 BC to outright civil war in 49 BC when Julius Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon
A prominent Roman general river and into the city of Rome. The following year Caesar’s forces won a decisive
and politician who first victory at Pharsalus in Greece. Pompey was forced to flee to Egypt, where he was
allied with and later fought captured by local rulers and beheaded.
against Julius Caesar. Following his victory in the civil war, Julius Caesar was named dictator of Rome for
a year. In 47 BC he was named dictator for ten years. In 44 BC he was named ‘Dictator
Pontifex Maximus Rome’s in Perpetuity’, which meant that he would hold absolute power in Rome until his death.
chief priest, a position held In all but name, Julius Caesar was the king of Rome.
for life
While dictator, Julius Caesar began several ambitious architectural projects to improve
triumvirate ‘Rule of three
the city of Rome, including a new civic and religious space called the Forum Iulium. He
men’
improved conditions for soldiers in the military, doubling their pay. He was also famous
dictator a Roman political
office chosen by the
for his clemency – he preferred to pardon those who had fought on Pompey’s side rather
Senate in times of national than to punish them. Clemency (or clementia in Latin) was deemed to be the ‘proper’
emergency as a temporary way to handle defeated enemies, and so Julius Caesar was presenting himself as an
position with absolute upstanding Roman by doing this.
power that was
On the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC Julius Caesar was ambushed by a gang of
relinquished once the
emergency was over senators at the Theatre of Pompey. Around sixty men were involved in the conspiracy,

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 2.1 Octavian Comes to Rome, 44–42 BC

DEBATE
The manner of Julius Caesar’s self-presentation is a subject of debate among
scholars of this period. Some sources suggest that Julius Caesar styled himself
as a king – wearing a crown and a purple toga. Purple was a sign of wealth and
power, and an entirely purple toga would have reminded Romans of their first
king Romulus, who was supposed to have worn one. Most Romans in the
Republican period hated the idea of monarchy. They had exiled their corrupt kings
centuries earlier, and many of the laws of the Republic were designed to prevent
one man gaining too much power. If Julius Caesar did, in fact, present himself as
a king then conser vative Romans would surely have been shocked and appalled.
The reliability of the sources on this matter are questionable, however. Julius
Caesar’s opponents certainly claimed that he had worn a crown and purple toga
– but how far can their reports be believed?

which was led by two men: Brutus and Cassius. The assassins overpowered the dictator
KEY INDIVIDUALS
(who was in his sixties at this point), stabbing him a total of twenty-three times. He died
Brutus
at the scene.
Dates: 85–42 BC
One of Julius Caesar’s
friends and allies, who
OCTAVIAN BECOMES CAESAR turned on him and led the
plot to assassinate him.
Octavian first entered Rome’s political arena in 44 BC , shortly after the assassination of Cassius
his great-uncle Julius Caesar. Octavian was just eighteen years old. Dates: uncertain birth date
Octavian had been born into a wealthy but politically insignificant family: the Octavii. c. 85–42 BC
This background meant that Octavian was never likely to be a major player in Roman Brutus’ co-conspirator in
politics, which put a great emphasis on the achievements of one’s ancestors. Julius the plot to assassinate
Caesar’s will stated that Octavian was his heir and requested that Octavian take his name. Julius Caesar.
Octavian interpreted this as a legal adoption. Roman law did not distinguish between
adopted and biological children and so, following Julius Caesar’s death, Octavian
suddenly had important (even divine) ancestors that would help him to get a good repu-
tation in Rome.
From the moment he arrived in Rome, Octavian abandoned his childhood name of
Octavius and called himself Gaius Julius Caesar (although this book and most other
modern works continue to refer to him as Octavian for ease). In one move, Octavian
associated him with the most powerful Roman of the past century disassociated himself
from the Octavii, a family of no outstanding prominence.

Octavian fulfils Julius Caesar’s promises

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