Born Gaius Octavius Thurinus in 63 BC, this great-nephew of Julius Caesar was a canny, bright and clever politician. He would also prove to be a superior military leader.
Octavius gained Caesar’s admiration at about 47 BC when on his way to join his great-uncle’s campaign in Spain he was shipwrecked. With a small group of comrades, Octavius crossed enemy territory and linked up with Caesar’s forces. The future Roman dictator was so impressed that he allowed the youth to ride with him on his chariot and upon returning to Rome in 44 BC changed his will, adopting Octavius and appointing him his successor.
Julius Caesar’s largesse toward him was unknown to Octavius until after the events of March 15, 44 BC. On that date, the Idles of March, Caesar was murdered. In the chaotic days that followed Octavius, knowing of his great-uncle wishes, changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar and, after some doubts, decided to make his bid for power. From here on, most historians refer to Octavius as Octavian, to show the name change but not to confuse him with his adoptive father.
Octavian Enters Politics
Octavian managed to politically and militarily outmaneuver the new Consul, Mark Anthony, a former lieutenant of Julius Caesar, as well as Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, a patrician, both powerful enough to claim the right to govern Rome, to form the Second Triumvirate. Under this arrangement, Octavian lorded over Sicily, Sardinia and Africa; Anthony controlled Cisalpine (this side of the Alps) and Transalpine (the other or far side of the Alps) Gaul and Lepidus was master of Gallia Narbonensis (southern France) and Iberia (Spain).
The arrangement would not last long. Octavian and Mark Anthony emerged as the two most powerful members of the tripartite junta delegating Lepidus to a secondary role. In addition, Octavian decided to divorce his wife, the daughter of Anthony’s wife, Fulvia, from her first marriage. With the help of some backer, Fulvia initiated a military operation against Octavian than soon developed into civil war.
Anthony, who was in Egypt with his paramour, Cleopatra, was forced to return to Europe. Before he could get back, Fulvia died. Then, claiming no interest in political matters, the centurions- officers who commanded companies (83 men) or cohorts (830) - on both sides revolted. This forced the two leaders to make peace. Lepidus was relegated to take control of Africa; Anthony would rule the East, which in effect kept him out of Rome and Octavian the western territories. Italy was open to all of them, but in reality it was under the control of Octavian.
In a gesture of good will, Octavian then, gave his sister Octavia Minor, to Anthony as wife. Mark Anthony however would suffer a series of defeats in Parthia (a region of northeastern Iran) and get no real help from Octavian. Since Egypt could provide him with the manpower he needed, Anthony disavowed Octavia and went back to Cleopatra. This played into the hands of Octavian who could now publicly place in doubt Anthony’s allegiance to Rome.
Eventually, Octavian was confident enough to have his forces enter the Vestal Virgins sanctuary and obtain Anthony’s will. In the document Mark Anthony willed to give one of his sons by Cleopatra Roman territories to rule and expressed his wish to be buried in Alexandria with the Egyptian queen. That was enough for the Senate and on 32 BC it declared war on Egypt and destitute Anthony as consul.
War issued the following year and on September 2, 31 BC, in the Battle of Actium, the Roman fleet defeated the combine forces of Anthony and Cleopatra. They fled to Egypt and held the forces of Octavian at bay in June, during the Battle of Alexandria. Weakened by desertion Anthony’s forces finally collapsed two months later. Both Mark Anthony and Cleopatra committed suicide.
Strengthening his power base
Octavian now could turn to other matters. First on his list was the elimination of possible political enemies and he could see that his primary rival was Caesarion, the son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. He had Caesarion lured to Alexandria and executed. The children of Cleopatra and Anthony were spared because they weren’t blood relations of Julius Caesar.
While he held full power over Roman territory and armies, in 27 BC Octavian surrendered his control of the government. This was an excellent move on his part, for his vast wealth, contacts and political acumen insured that he was the man really in control of what would become the empire.
That same year he received the title of Princeps, meaning the first head and a title for those who had served the Republic well. In addition he was granted the title of Augustus, which means the illustrious one. As Augustus, the name he would be known by from then on, he was recognized as an individual who had authority over humanity and even nature. It was more of a religious title than a sign of authority.
Augustus, whose names turned into the permanent titles of the Roman Emperors, died on August 19, 14 AD.
Resources
Everitt, Anthony. Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor. New York. Random House, 2006.
Sources
Ivan Castro - Ivan Castro, a former reporter for The Miami Herald, is a free lance writer specializing in History and Archeology.
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