AUGUSTUS – RISE TO POWER

Daniel Di Benedetto

Early Life & Family Octavius (AKA Augustus) was born in the city of

Rome on 23rd September, 63 BC. Lived in the village of Velitrae, Was the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, who

treated Octavius as if he were his son. Octavius was born into the Octavii, who were a

former Patrician family, which later reverted to Plebian rank. Julius Caesar granted them Patrician rank when he came into power.

Octavius father, Gaius Octavius, was considerably wealthy and held many offices – including the governorship of Macedonia.

Octavius had 2 sisters: Octavia the Elder and Octavia the Younger.

Octavius’ relation to Julius Caesar

Start of a Career At the age of 15, Octavius was elected a Pontiff in

the College of Pontiffs – Caesar gave him this position.

Octavius began to live a close life with Caesar. They were often in company and Octavius’ influence began to build.

Octavius travelled to Hispania, to fight along his grand-uncle. Unfortunately, Octavius became shipwrecked, but managed to travel long distance through Hispania to accompany Caesar. This event was notable, for it greatly impressed Caesar – Suetonius believes that this event is what triggered Caesar to adopt Octavius.

Caesar’s Heir On the Ides of March (15th March, 44 BC), Julius

Caesar was assassinated, temporarily hindering Octavius’ rise.

Shortly after the assassination, it was revealed that Octavius had been adopted and named as heir to Julius Caesar.

To cement his authenticity as Caesar’s heir, he renamed himself to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus.

Upon being named Caesar’s heir, he had received the control of Caesar’s legions, along with 700 million sesterces.

On 1st January 43 BC, Octavian was inducted as a senator, but also given the power to vote alongside the consuls. This video is a dramatization of Octavian when he was

made consul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8hNaCnOdcw

Caesar’s murder created a desire in Octavian to want to avenge uncle – along with Marcus Antonius.

Second Triumvirate In October 43 BC, Octavian, Marcus Antonius and

Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate – a powerful political alliance that granted the three a multitude of powers.

Antonius and Octavian sent 28 legions to the area of Philippi were they faced off against Caesar’s conspirators – Brutus and Cassius. This important battle came to be known as the Battle of Philippi.

While the Caesarian forces became victorious in the October of 42 BC – causing both conspirators to commit suicide – Antonius used the opportunity to belittle Octavian, as the victory was mostly by Antonius’ troops.

After Philippi, Octavian gained the Roman provinces of Italia, Gaul and Hispania.

Civil War Marcus Antonius – who was given control over

Egypt – became engaged in a romantic relationship with Cleopatra.

Octavian used this opportunity to spread propaganda against Antonius that he was no longer a Roman, and more interested in “Oriental Paramour”.

In 32 BC, Octavian seized and publically read Antonius’ will, which revealed that he planned to give Roman-conquered territories as Kingdoms for his sons to rule.

Later that year, the Senate revoked Antonius’ power and declared war on Egypt, Antonius and Cleopatra. This scene is another dramatization from the

1963 film ‘Cleopatra’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEIU792MQh0 In early 31 BC, Octavian gained an advantage

over Cleopatra and Antonius’ forces, when the navy – under the control of Agrippa – blocked Antonius’ supply routes and landlocked them.

On 2nd September, Antonius and Cleopatra attempted to break free of the naval blockade. They opposed Octavian’s navy in the bay of Actium – commencing the famed Battle of Actium.

Antonius was able to escape, although his fleet was gravely destroyed. Antonius and Cleopatra fled to Alexandria – where they committed suicide a year later.

The ‘Birth’ of Augustus After the defeat of Marcus Antonius, Octavian was

unrivalled as the most influential man in Rome. He paraded and continually reminded Romans

that he had ‘restored’ the Republic after decades of war and dictatorships.

The senate offered Octavian the dictatorship multiple times – most notably in 27 and 23 BC. He turned down the offer both times.

Instead, through his influence and manipulation, Octavian managed to incrementally attain powers that would allow him to rule Rome.

In January 27 BC, Octavian shocked the senate when he announced that he was to lay down all of the powers that he had accreted over the decades – arguing that he had restored peace to Rome.

The senate, who were shocked of his selflessness, granted him to his Imperium and Tribunal powers – which gave him control over the legions, and allowed him to veto any politician respectively.

He was also given the titles of Augustus (the ‘revered one’) and Princeps (‘first citizen’).

This event was most likely planned and used as a form of propaganda in order to achieve the power he would need to control Rome.

Major Events – Summary 45 BC – Octavius accompanies Caesar to Hispania, where

he gains the respect of Caesar. 44 BC – Julius Caesar is assassinated. It becomes revealed

that Caesar had adopted Octavius, giving him legions and money that would help in his ambitions.

43 BC – The Second Triumvirate is formed between Octavian, Antonius and Lepidus.

42 BC – Battle of Philippi. Conspirators are killed and the Roman provinces are split between Octavian and Antonius.

38 BC – Octavian marries Livia. 31 BC – Battle of Actium. Octavian’s navy, commanded by

Agrippa, defeats Antonius and Cleopatra – who retreat to Egypt.

30 BC – Suicide of Antonius and Cleopatra. Octavian has Caesar’s son with Cleopatra, Ceasarion, murdered. Octavian becomes the most powerful and influential man in Rome.

27 BC – Octavian addresses the senate and lays down all his powers. In return, the senate provide him with Imperium and Tribunal powers, and name him Augustus. He has gained enough power to now rule Rome as emperor. Historians regard this event to be the transition of Rome from the Republic to the Empire.

27 BC – AD 14 – Augustus rules Rome as emperor, dying in AD 14 at the age of 76. His 40-year reign was known as the Pax Romana – the period of peace.

Conclusion Augustus became the most influential and

powerful man in Rome. Through clever tactics and propaganda, he managed to attain the power he would need to rule Rome as emperor.

When he became Augustus in 27 BC, he forged Rome into a dynastic empire in the autocratic style. He is mainly responsible for Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire.

During his reign as emperor, Rome was in its most peaceful state for over a century. The last century of the Republic was plagued with wars, dictatorships and corruption.

Bibliography The Twelve Caesars – Suetonius http://classics.mit.edu/Augustus/deeds.html http://cliojournal.wikispaces.com/Augustus+and+

Propaganda http://www.roman-emperors.org/auggie.htm http://everything2.com/title/Augustan+Reforms http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/augustus2.html Rome (TV Series) – Created by Bruno Heller, John

Milius, & William J. MacDonald Cleopatra (1963 film) – Directed by Joseph L.

Mankiewicz