Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus
AKA: Augustus
During Caesar’s Life He had no legitimate children of his
own He saw promise in his great-nephew
Gaius Octavius By the age of 15 he started to groom
the boy for leadership The boy had delicate health
• Suffered sun stroke while presiding over games
• Was too ill to go to Spain with Caesar
Caesar is Killed Octavius is sent to Greece to get an
education and learn how to run an army
Caesar is killed, 43 BC. No heir had yet been named Who would take over?
Octavian’s Dilemma Caesar never announced Octavian as
heir Caesar’s assassins were praised Antony is powerful and in Rome Caesar’s troops are willing to march
to Rome with Octavian as their leader
What does Octavian do?
Octavian’s Decision Octavian decides to return to Rome
without the army Cicero takes a liking to Octavian
• He feels that Octavian could possibly overpower Antony
• Cicero thinks that Octavian is young, smart and willing to learn. He could make a good leader.
Legions rally behind Octavian and fight Antony
Both consuls lead the army and both die
Octavian in Command With the consuls dead Octavian is in
sole command of the army This gives Octavian enough power to
bargain with Antony Octavian, Antony and Lepidus form
the second triumvirate They draw up a list of who must die.
• Cicero
Augustus as imperator-Villa of Livia-100 ad
Augustus as pontifex maximus- 12 BC- Rome
The Second Triumverate Augustus, Antony and Lepidus The relationship between Antony and
Augustus becomes strained Augustus marries his sister Octavia to
Antony • They have two children
Antony gets bored, moves to Egypt and marries Cleopatra while still married to Octavia. • Pg. 71
Hatred of Antony Roman people start to hate Antony
• People like Octavia who is a dutiful wife to her husband
• Antony is married to Egyptian queen • His campaign in the East stalls
War looms but for ten years but Antony and Augustus are peaceful.
Augustus He rebuilds Rome Stops raiding by pirates Stops attacks from tribes outside of
Rome Caesars veterans are given their
promised land The prestige of the ruling class is
restored The great Roman poet Vergil writes
the Georgics
Antony and Cleopatra They have a vast and rich kingdom They are above the people Wealth and luxury
Battle of Actium 31 B.C.
The Ara Pacis9 B.C.
The Procession
Agrippa
Citation Coolidge, Olivia E. Lives of Famous
Romans. United States of America: Home School Publishing, 2007. Print.
Kleiner, Fred S. A History of Roman Art. Victoria: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007. Print.