Imperial image Octavian comes to Rome

• Caesar had angered a number of people. he formed a triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus which many saw as unconstitutional as it by passes the traditional routes to power
• the first triumvirate that Caesar formed had turned against itself with Crassus dying on a campaign in Parthia. Private squabbling led to a civil war between Pompey and Julius Caesar
• Caesr had marched his armies on Rome and upset even more people
• Caesar defeated his main political rival in 49 BC. Caesar was named dictator for life despite it being a position traditionally only held for sixth months in times of crisis
• eventually Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators including the senators Brutus, Crassus.
• Caesar was overwhelmingly popular with the Roman people and army
• Octavian was Caesars adopted son and in turn may have inherited a lot of caesars enemies
• Octavian had to be seen to avenge Caesars death
• Octavian was from a politically insignificant family (Octavii). He called himself Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. thus distancing himself from his politically insignificant family and associate himself further with Caesars politically significant name
• He wanted to be seen as political heir to Caesar - his property, name and political power. He gave money to plebs fulfilling Caesars will which increases his popularity and further is association with Caesar who was overwhelmingly popular with the plebeians
• Octavian held games in honour of Caesars ancestors. at the games a comet appeared which Octavian claimed was his Father Caesars spirit being deified by the Gods.
• In 43 BC. Octavian formed triumvirate with Lepidus and Mark Antony. It was modelled after Caesars first triumvirate. however there's was ratified by law
• The second triumvirate killed political enemies through proscriptions and filled their own pockets with the dead senators money. they killed 100-300 out of 900 suitors.
• Octavian styled himself as son of God so was able to incorporate divi fillis into his image
• both Mark Antony and Octavian present themselves as hiers to caesar. Antony was Caesars fellow consul and second to command of his armies
• In 42 BC Mark Antony, lepidus, and Octavian defeated the killers Of Julius at the battle of Phillipe
• SOURCE: 43 BC - comet appears at games in honour of Caesar, Octavian claimed it was julius caesars deification. Octavian can now style himself as a son of god. Notebally alexandar the great in the 4th century BC styled himself as a son of god
• • SOURCE: 43 BC - coin of Octavian and Caesar
• • SOURCE: 43 BC - Coin of Octavian and Caesar
  • BACKGROUND: octavian is adoptive son of Juilius Caesar and his son takes his na,e in 44BC. this gave him prestige popularity with the army and the people. politicians were skeptical and some thought octavian was to young to be a threat. By gaining the name Caesar, Octavian gained a politically significant name, some allies, and some enemies who mistrusted caesar. most thought that Octavian was to young to be a real threat
• • SOURCE: 43 BC - Coin of Octavian and Caesar
  • MILITRY: Julius Caesar wore the laurel wreath proving that he was a great military general. Octavian on the reverse bare head as he hasn't had much militry achievments but wants to be assosiated with great militry achievments.
• • SOURCE: 43 BC - Coin of Octavian and Caesar
  • RELIGION: The side of Julius Caesar is portrayed with inscription on coin. "pontifex maximus" which means high priest. a position held for life.
  • Octavian is portrayed as "Auger" which means priest. He refused to hold the title of pontifex maximus while current one (Lepidus) was still alive. This makes it seem like Octavian loves peace and is prepared to work with other politicians
• • SOURCE: 43 BC - Coin of Octavian and Caesar
  • POLITICAL: One side Julius Caesar us portrayed as "Dictator perpetuality" which means dictator for life. The roman office of dictator ws only supposed to be hlef for 6 months in times of crisis. The senate had voted Julius Caesar dictator for life but some politicians thought this was to much hence his assassination
  • Octavian on Reverse is portrayed as consul. a legally held positition that was for 1 year and only people voted for it. Octavian os trying to avoid being seen as a power hungry leader which could upset politicians.
• • SOURCE: 43 BC - Coin of Octavian and Caesar
  • Audience: Gold aureus. usually the rich people/senators used these. propaganda aimed at senators who had been upsetby Caesar. Julius first had his head put on coins so Octavian doing the same is significant
• OCTAVIAN : (63 BC - 14 AD)

  Octavian was largely responsible for transforming Rome from a republic to a principiate. He changed his name to Augustus in 27 BC
• LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR:

  Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was a Roman politician and general. Born into the ancient Julian clan, he traced his family lineage back to the legendary founders of Rome:

  Aeneas and his divine mother Venus (the goddess of love) and Romulus and his divine father Mars (the god of war).
• Hugely popular with the common people of Rome and with legions of veterans who had served in his army, Julius Caesar became one of the most powerful men in Rome in the first century BC. He was a gifted military general and a skilful public speaker. He advanced quickly up Rome's political ladder, being elected Pontifex Maximus in 63 BC
•  and eventually being elected as consul (Rome's highest political office) for the year 59 BC. He was overwhelmingly popular with the urban poor, many of whom were disenfranchised Italian farmers or discharged veterans. He sought to improve their living conditions through initiatives such as his land distribution bill, which gave these impoverished city-dwellers a chance for homes and livelihoods in

  Italy.
• LIFE OF JULIS CAESAR:

  • Julius Caesar made an informal allience with two of Rome's leading men. Pompey the Great and Crassus.
• LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR :

  At this stage, Julius Caesar made an informal alliance with two of Rome's leading men: Pompey the Great (a great general) and Crassus (who was exceedingly wealthy).

  They were known as the First Triumvirate. The three men used their combined influence to manage Roman politics. Many saw this as unconstitutional as they were bypassing the traditional, legal routes to political power. Some went so far as to accuse the triumvirs of treason against Rome.
• LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR:

  • The triumvirate continued to work together until they were the most powerful men in the empire
  • The triumvirate turned against each other with each man vying for sole power
  • Crassus died in 53 BC on a campaign in Parthia and private squabbling led to an outright civil war in 49 BC
  • Caesar marched his army into Rome. Pompey was forced to feel Egypt where he was later captured and beheaded by locals
• JULIUS CAESAR LIFE:

  • following Caesars victory in the civil war, Caesar was named Dictator for a year. 47 BC he was dictator for ten years. and in 44 BC he was named "dictator in perpetuity" which means he would hold absolute power in Rome until death.
  • During this time Caesar improved conditions for soldiers. doubling there pay
• LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR:

  • On the Ides of march (15th of march) 44 BC Caesar was ambushed by a gang of senators at the theatres of Pompey. around 60 men were involved in the conspiracy
  • Caesar was unpopular with the upper-class. many scholars debate that it was mainly because Caesar styled himself as a king.
• Octavian Becomes Caesar:

  • Octavian first entered Rome's political arena in 44 BC shortly after Caesars assassination.
  • Octavian had been born into a wealthy but politically insignificant family
  • Roman Law did not distinguish between adoptive and biological children. so when Octavian took his adoptive fathers name of Caesar, he now had a important (even divine) name/ ancestors which would raise his politically reputation in Rome
• • In one move Octavian associated himself with the most powerful Roman in the last century and distanced himself from from the Octavii. a Family with no outstanding prominence
• Octavian fulfils Caesars promised:

  • In Octavian's early years of his Career his public image was entirely depicted through his association with Julius Caesar
  • He wanted people to see him as legitimate heir to his political power and not just Caesars property and name.
  • Octavian's first move in Rome was to fulfil a request made in Caesars will to give 75 Denarii to each of the Rome's poor (plebeians)
  • He held games in honour of Venus which were promised by Caesar. while these games were held a comet appeared in the sky which Octavian claimed was Caesars deification, rising to heaven to become a God
• Octavian


  Enters the senate
• Mark Antony


  One of Caesar's former lieutenants, wanted to inherit Caesar's power, positioning himself as the rightful heir
• At Caesar's funeral


  1. Mark Antony attacked the assassins

  2. Turning a tide of popularity towards himself
• The Senate


  Saw Octavian as less of a threat as he was only 18, and him being the lesser of two evils, they sent Octavian to fight Antony
• Octavian fought Antony


  Antony was defeated and forced to retreat