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Early Life & Family
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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.
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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.
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Caesar’s Heir
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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.
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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
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Caesar’s murder created a desire in Octavian to
want to avenge uncle – along with Marcus
Antonius.
Second Triumvirate
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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.
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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
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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.
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Later that year, the Senate revoked Antonius’
power and declared war on Egypt, Antonius
and Cleopatra.
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This scene is another dramatization from the
1963 film ‘Cleopatra’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEIU792MQh0
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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
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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.
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Major Events – Summary
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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.
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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
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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+P
ropaganda
 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
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