![]() One way or another, anyone who opposed him had to be hounded out of Rome or killed. He used every method he could think of, treachery, corruption, murder. With the dictatorship now well and truly established, Octavian began to dispose of his opponents. No-one was going to publicly argue with anyone of such a high standing. Being the adopted son of a god was one way of bringing fear into the hearts of his enemies. One method he employed of helping his image, was set about re-inventing Caesar, by playing down his weaknesses and praising his god status. Octavian had to ensure he did not leave office in the same manner. He was aware he was following the same path as Caesar had taken, and also of the brutal end that Caesar had suffered. Dictators were not popular with the Roman Senate, and Octavian had to be careful about whom he trusted. As did Caesar, Octavian set up a Triumvirate? the Second Triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus. He followed this in 42BC by announcing that Julius Caesar be given the posthumous status of a god of the Roman state. The young people believed that by that star it was signified that the soul of Caesar was received among the immortal gods, on which account the sign of a star was attached to the head of the statue which I shortly consecrated in the Forum. It appeared about the eleventh hour of the day and was clearly visible in all countries. On the very day of my games, a comet was seen in the northern part of the sky for seven days. In retribution, Octavian organised the "Games of the Victory of Caesar" in an attempt to gain the support of the Roman public. Antonius refused to do this and so Caesar's legacies had to be given to the Roman public. His first action was to try and persuade Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), who had been Caesar's main and most trusted supporter, to give him Caesar's assets and documents, both personal and political. Eighteen was such a young age to ascend to the throne, it was feared that he would not have the experience and knowledge to handle the plotting and intrigue that abounded in the Roman senate. Against strong advice and pleading from his family and those around him, Octavian took the throne and began the hunt for those he held responsible for Caesar's death. In honour of his new found father, Octavian changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar. Caesar could not have foreseen his assassination, so Octavian had become Emperor at, in political circles, the extremely young age of eighteen. It was when Caesar's will was read that it was discovered that Octavian had been adopted as Caesar's son and had been given the throne of Rome. In 44BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and Cassius. Octavian's career in the political field was mainly due to his family connections rather than political competence, but it was an most incredible turn of events that caused him to become emperor. This connection was really the springboard that took him to the top. Atia had a more distinguished connection than her husband, as she was the daugheter of Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar. When the senior Gaius Octavius died in 59BC, Octavian's mother, Atia, took over his upbringing and guided him into his career in Roman politics. Later he went on to become a praetor, thereby giving his son high standards to follow. Octavian's father, also Gaius Octavius, had been the first member of his family to achieve the status of senator. Gaius Octavius was born in on 23 September, 63BC into a wealthy family of knights ( equites) in Velitrae, south east of Rome.
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