Octavian Comes to Rome

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Pontifex Maximus

Rome’s chief priest, a position held for life

triumvirate

‘rule of three men’

Pontifex Maximus

Rome’s chief priest, a position held for life

triumvirate

‘rule of three men’

dictator

a roman political office chosen by the Senate in times of national emergency as a temporary position with absolute power that was relinquished was the emergency was over

When did Julius Caesar become pontifex maximus?

63 BC

When did Julius Caesar become a consul?

59 BC

Who was in the first triumvirate?

Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great and Crassus

Who was Caesar popular with and why?

He was popular with the urban poor as he sought to improve their living conditions through things like his land distribution bill

When did civil war occur?

49 BC

When was Julius Caesar named dictator and for how long?

46 BC, for ten years

What was Caesar named in 44BC?

‘Dictator in Perpetuity’ - he would hold absolute power in Rome until his death

What did Caesar do whilst dictator?

Serval architecture projects to improve Rome, including civic and religious space; the Forum Iulium. Improved conditions for those in the military, doubling pay, and pardoning those who had fought on Pompey’s side during the civil war.

When did Octavian enter Rome and at what age?

in 44BC after the assassination of Caesar, he was 18

What was Octavian’s family background?

He came from a wealthy but politically insignificant family, the Ocatavii. It wasn’t likely that he would become a major political figure in Rome with his background

How did Caesar ‘adopt’ Octavian?

He named him his heir and requested Octavian take his name in his will.

Why was Octavian’s ‘adoption’ significant?

There was no distinguishing between legal adoption and birth, so Octavian suddenly had very important ancestors, some even divine, that would hep him gain a good reputation in Rome.

denarius

a silver coin with value enough to pay a soldier’s wage for three days and buy enough wheat to bake daily bread for a month

games

public events held, usually by magistrates or rich individuals, to honour a particular god or in celebration of an event. Games were a rare chance for the urban poor to enjoy entertainments such as theoretical plays, chariot racing, circus performances and gladiatorial shows.

What did Octavian do as his first moves in Rome?

Fulfilled Caesars will by paying 75 denarii to Roman poor, held game sin honour of Venus that had been promised by Caesar. A tactic called ‘panem et circenses’ (bread and games) by Juvenal

What appeared during the sky in the games and why was this significant?

A comet which Octavian claimed to be his ‘father’ Julius rising to the sky to be made a god.

Who else wanted Julius Caesar’s power?

Mark Antony, one of Caesars former lieutenants

How did Mark Antony try to establish himself?

He made a speech at Caesar’s funeral attacking the assassins and gained control of the treasury and Caesar’s papers, which he used to his advantage

Why did the Senate vote Octavian into the Senate?

They were scared that Anthony would try to seize power Octavian was the lesser of two evils.

When was Anthony’s army defeated?

April 43BC

Who lead the army?

Octavian

Who was killed during the campaign against Anthony?

The two consuls Hiritius and Pansa

What mistake did the Senate make after the defeat of Anthony?

They tried to curb Octavian’s power by refusing him honours for the victory, causing Octavian to respond by not pursuing Anthony.

Why was Octavian placed as consul?

He used the Senate’s army to match on Rome and demand he was given consulship, with no army, the Senate had to agree. A show election was held and Octavian became consul in 43BC

How had Octavian presented himself?

As the obvious successor to Caesar’s power and popularity

What is an early survivor of Octavian’s propganda?

A coin with Octavian minted on it along with his ‘father’

How did the coin show the similarities between Octavian and Julius Caesar?

Aligns Octavian with Caesar’s power, test following the same model encouraging the parallels, stresses their link

What is the significance of the political positions shown on the coin?

Octavian’s references the consulship rather than Caesar’s ‘Dictator in Perpetuity’, suggesting a difference between their pollicises making Octavian seem less threatening. He as shown as an elected politicians rather than a unconstitutional tyrant.

What is the wreath of Caesar’s head on the coin?

The laurel wreath which references his military victories. If a general had been successful they were awarded a triumph and be allowed to wear the wreath as a sign of honour.

Who was in the second triumvirate?

Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus

What was different between the first and second triumvirate?

The second was ratified with law which gave them extraordinary powers for 5 years.

triumph

granted by a Senate vote, a special celebration of successful military campaign in which the conquering general would ride through the streets of Rome on a chariot with the spoils of war paraded behind.

What proscription did the second triumvirate set out?

It named individual senators as public enemies, once a persons property was confiscated and they could be killed.

What title did Octavian take for himself in 42 BC?

‘divi filius’ son of a god, as part of his official name

Why was Octavian’s claim to be the son of a god important?

It gave him an aura of importance and authority that few mortals could rival, on par with legendary heroes, like Hercules and Aeneas, themselves demigods.

mos maiorum

‘The ways of our ancestors’ ; an unwritten code of behaviour and values, looking to the ancestors as role models

What did the Roman code of ‘proper behaviour’ place emphasis on?

the importance of duty

How did Octavian avenge his father?

He waged a military campaigns against his assassins, Brutus and Cassius with Anthony.

What happened at the Battle of Philippi?

Octavian and Mark Anthony won against Brutus and Cassius and they killed themselves, fully avenging Julius Caesar.